Once upon a time, nestled in the undulating waves of the vast Pacific Ocean, there was a charming and rugged, albeit slightly specialized, boat named the USS Prestige (AM-465/MSO-465). With her gleaming steel hull and a date of birth that's best described as "mid-20th century chic," she was a sight to behold. Our love story began when Mrs. William R. Poulson took on the mantle of christening this voluptuous minesweeper. She was to give the most quotidian of tasks a hint of sophistication, a dash of romance, and perhaps, a lethal tinge of danger. Because what can be more romantic than a couple of hidden mines at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? The USS Prestige, unlike some other self-important Royal Navy ships bearing regal titles like Queen Mary or Prince of Wales, don't aspire for power or kingdoms. With a sparkling personality that could put any glitzy Hollywood diva to shame, all she did was sweeping mines, and oh, how she did it with style! Her courtship with the mines was the stuff of legends. It was not a battle, as some less enlightened swabbies might have it, but a dance. A gentle pirouette to the right, a seductive sidestep to the left, and whoosh! Just like that, she had another seafaring suitor out of her way. It indeed takes a certain finesse to sweep mines off their feet, and USS Prestige was definitely not lacking in that department. Gentle, yet firm, she stalked the sea floor like a slow-burning flame, asserting her dominance and inspiring sonnets that made the hearts of even the most stony-hearted sailor flutter with joy. Indeed, so potent was her allure that even the surrounding fauna couldn't resist. The dolphins danced around her, the sea turtles serenaded her, and the seagulls? Well, they did what seagulls do best: annoy everyone nearby. Nevertheless, Prestige carried on, her siren song luring the mines to benign submission. But alas, this is not a happily-ever-after tale. In a world of constant innovation, our lovely dame soon found her skills overshadowed by the new kids on the block - those pesky 'remote controlled' and 'autonomous' vessels. As they zipped around with their fancy algorithms, our poor Prestige, with her yeoman-like demeanor, started to feel like an anachronism. Yet, the USS Prestige never shed a tear, for she knew that love isn't confined to her operational prowess alone. But rather, it is found in the waves she commands, the seafarers she regales with her tales, and yes, even in the mines she once tamed. While her name might suggest a gala of glitz and grandeur, the Prestige's true charm lay in her everyday work. In clearing a path for others, in relentlessly removing danger and fear from the waters she roamed, she stands as a beacon of dedication, strength, and dare we say, love. So, here's to the USS Prestige, the unsung hero of the deep seas; she might not wear a princess's crown, but in our hearts, she will always be a queen. Long live the queen of the sea, sweeping mines and winning hearts since 1954!