Her propulsion system consisted of two 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines powered by eight coal-fired, cylindrical fire-tube Scotch marine boilers.

[2] The ship was armed with a main battery of four BL 12-inch (305 mm) Mk VIII guns in twin-gun turrets, one forward and one aft.

This allowed Majestic and her sisters to have a deeper and lighter belt than previous battleships without any loss in protection.

[1] The barbettes for the main battery were protected with 14 in (356 mm) of armour, and the conning tower had the same thickness of steel on the sides.

She was commissioned into the Royal Navy less than a year later, in December 1895, serving with the Channel Squadron at the Portsmouth division.

[5] She took part in the Coronation Review held at Spithead for King Edward VII on 16 August 1902,[6] and in September that year was head of a squadron visiting Nauplia and Souda Bay at Crete in the Mediterranean Sea.

[3] Upon the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Majestic and the rest of the 7th Battle Squadron were assigned to the Channel Fleet.

[3] In February 1915, Majestic was assigned to participate in the upcoming Dardanelles Campaign to open the Turkish Straits, and she departed early that month under the command of Captain H. F. G. Talbot to join the Mediterranean Fleet.

[3] On 26 February 1915, Majestic and battleships Albion and Triumph became the first Allied heavy ships to enter the Turkish Straits during the campaign, firing on the inner forts from 0914 until 1740 hours.

She opened fire on Fort 9 at 1420 hours and also engaged Turkish field guns hidden in woods.

Majestic was hit four times, twice in her lower tops and twice on her forecastle, and returned to Tenedos at 2200 hours with one dead and some wounded crew members.

[10] On 25 April 1915, Majestic was back in action, signalling London that Allied landings had begun at Gallipoli and supporting them with coastal bombardments until 1915 hours.

She brought 99 wounded troops aboard at 2110 hours and recovered all her boats before anchoring off Gallipoli for the night.

[10] Majestic relieved Triumph as flagship of Admiral Nicholson,[8] commanding the squadrons supporting the troops ashore off Cape Helles, on 25 May 1915.

Around 0645 hours, Commander Otto Hersing of the German submarine U-21 fired a single torpedo through the defensive screen of destroyers and anti-torpedo nets, striking Majestic and causing a huge explosion.

[10][b] Her masts hit the mud of the sea bottom, and her upturned hull remained visible for many months until it was finally submerged when her foremast collapsed during a storm.