Mel C and Katarina Johnson-Thomson are among the five stars who have been selected to officially name Cunard’s Queen Anne.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to join Matt and Emma Willis, who will take to the stage to oversee the star-studded naming ceremony for the Queen Anne held in Liverpool today, May 3.

Today’s proceedings will open with a performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The City of Liverpool was named as the godparent of the ship, which will homeport in Southampton, so the luxury cruise line has selected five iconic Liverpool women to represent the city and officially name Queen Anne.

Daily Echo: The Queen Anne sailing into SouthamptonThe Queen Anne sailing into Southampton (Image: Cunard)These distinguished women have been chosen for their significant contributions to culture at a local, national or international level. 

The five stars are Spice Girl and author Melanie C, broadcaster and community leader Ngunan Adamu, local restaurant entrepreneur Natalie Haywood, Liverpool music and cultural legend Jayne Casey, and British Olympic heptathlon athlete Katarina Johnson-Thomson

The icons will join Cunard President, Katie McAlister, and Queen Anne Captain, Inger Klein Thorhauge, for a special naming ceremony.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “Liverpool is the spiritual home of Cunard, and we are therefore delighted and feel it very fitting that the City of Liverpool is the godparent to Queen Anne.

Daily Echo: President of Cunard Katie McAlister President of Cunard Katie McAlister (Image: Cunard)“It’s testament to the enduring relationship that connects Cunard and the city in which it was founded to the present day when we officially named our new ship on the Liverpool Waterfront, in front of the Cunard Building.

“We are equally delighted to have our five chosen Liverpool icons represent the city in the ceremony.

“All remarkable in their own right, they have inspired generations and collectively capture the essence of the city that has shaped global culture.”

Tens of thousands are set to attend the ceremony after a million people attended the naming of for Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1990 and over a million for the Three Queens Salute in 2015.

Formal proceedings will conclude with a stunning performance by operatic superstar Andrea Bocelli, including his iconic song 'Time to Say Goodbye'.