Princess Yachts Mourns the Passing of Founder David King
August 25, 2026
Princess Yachts is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its founder, David King, following a period of illness.
David founded Princess in Plymouth in 1965 and dedicated more than six decades to building the company into one of the world’s most respected yacht manufacturers, renowned internationally for its craftsmanship, innovation and quality.
Although he stepped back from the day-to-day leadership of the business, David remained actively involved until very recently, continuing to spend time with Princess’ development teams and contributing to the future direction of its products.
On behalf of everyone at Princess, we extend our deepest sympathies to David’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
Commenting on David’s passing, Princess Yachts Chief Executive Officer Will Green said: “For many people, it is difficult to think of Princess without thinking of David. That says everything about the contribution he made over more than six decades but it only tells part of the story.
Characteristically, David never took credit for what Princess has become. He was always the first to recognise the contribution of others, and that humility earned him enormous respect throughout our industry.
I’m sure the tributes for David will be about the company he founded or the yachts he created, and rightly so. Those achievements speak for themselves. What I’ll remember most, however, is the time he gave so generously to others. I was fortunate to know David not only as our founder, but also as a mentor. Particularly as I took on the role of CEO, his guidance, encouragement and quiet support meant a great deal to me and are something I will always be grateful for.
David always looked to the future. So, I believe the greatest tribute we can pay him is to continue the work he cared so deeply about by building exceptional yachts with the same curiosity, humility and attention to detail that defined his life, ensuring the company he loved continues to flourish for generations to come.”
