RV The Princess Royal is a research vessel owned and operated by Newcastle University as part of the School of Marine Science and Technology.

The hull form aims to improve seakeeping, stability and fuel efficiency[6] and was designed by the School of Marine Science and Technology at Newcastle University.

The ship was built by Alnmarintec in Blyth[3] to MCA category 2 requirements and is constructed from aluminium alloy.

[6] The Princess Royal is equipped with a 6.5 tonne-metre knuckle boom crane, a 2 tonne hydraulic A-frame, two trawl winches, a pot hauler two ROV winches and a 5-metre Rigid Inflatable Boat.

[3] Powering the vessel are two MAN D2676 diesel engines coupled to two fixed-pitch propellers.