BORIS Johnson is set to confirm plans to unveil the design of a £250 million British flagship ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Telegraph reports the vessel, which is seen as a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia, “will be used to generate trade around the world”.

Once source told the paper the ship will be the "the jewel in the crown" of the UK Government’s new shipbuilding strategy.

The Prime Minister is publishing the new strategy on Thursday, announcing his commitment to unveiling the design for the new flagship to "showcase cutting-edge British shipbuilding, engineering and technology, particularly clean maritime technologies" in the spring.

Officials say the new boat will be a “working trade ship” as opposed to a royal yacht, and claim the new designs will represent a "restatement of the values and business case of the ship". A source assured the Telegraph people will be “hard-pressed” to see anything that “looks like recreational luxury” on the £250m vessel.

The shipbuilding strategy describes it as "a visible demonstration of the UK's commitment to enhance and strengthen trade with our key export markets around the world", adding: "It will provide a unique convening power to UK exporters and a secure sovereign hub for diplomatic events.

"The design and construction of the new national flagship will be a national endeavour and a chance to show off the very best of UK shipbuilding."

The National: The royal family has distanced itself from Boris Johnson's plan The royal family has distanced itself from Boris Johnson's plan

Johnson sparked an almighty backlash last summer when he first announced plans for a royal yacht replacement.

Described as a “floating embassy”, the ship is expected to be paid for out of the Ministry of Defence budget, with costs soaring well above the original £200m projection.

The SNP said last year that the expenditure was "indefensible" in light of cuts to Universal Credit and other lifeline benefits.

Buckingham Palace also distanced itself from the plans. One senior royal source told the Sunday Times the ship was regarded as "too grand" a symbol to be used by the monarchy in the modern age. They said: “It is not something we have asked for.”

Since then the cost of living crisis has intensified, with Brexit, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic adding further strain to household budgets.

Nevertheless, Johnson will hail the boat as a symbol of Global Britain.

He is expected to say on Thursday: “Shipbuilding has been in our blood for centuries and I want to ensure it remains at the heart of British industry for generations to come.

“The national shipbuilding strategy will transform this important and crucial industry, creating jobs, driving technology development and upskilling the shipbuilders of tomorrow, ensuring we are levelling up across every dock, port and shipyard in the UK.

“This will ensure the UK is rightly seen as a shipbuilding power across the world.”