Cunard ship in Liverpool for Premier League parade

Queen Anne is due to return to Liverpool for the start of the 185th anniversary celebrations of the line's first transatlantic crossing from Liverpool in 1840

Cunard's newest ship Queen Anne is returning to its "spiritual home" on the day of Liverpool FC's Premier League open top bus parade.

Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans are expected to gather in the city to celebrate the Reds' 20th league title on Monday.

Queen Anne is due to return to the River Mersey at 12:00 BST on Monday ahead of the start of Cunard's celebrations to mark the 185th anniversary of the line's first transatlantic crossing, which left from Liverpool in 1840.

Cunard said she will form a "magnificent backdrop" to the parade celebrations when the Reds' bus reaches Liverpool's waterfront.

Queen Anne is due to return to the River Mersey at 12:00 BST Monday

It will be the first time Queen Anne, which accommodates 3,000 guests and has 14 decks, has returned to Liverpool since her naming ceremony at Pier Head in June.

The luxury cruise liner is expected at the following points as she makes her way to her berth at the cruise port in Liverpool at 12:00:

• Mersey Bar: 09:15

• Formby: 09:45

• Crosby: 10:15

• New Brighton: 10:45

• Seacombe: 11:00

Thousands of people turned out to celebrate Cunard's 175th anniversary in 2015

Cunard said the ship will remain in port overnight before HRH The Princess Royal visits on Tuesday to mark the official start of the 185th anniversary celebrations before the vessel departs at 23:45.

A photographic exhibition to mark the 185th anniversary curated by renowned photographer Mary McCartney - daughter of The Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney - will also open on Tuesday at the Royal Liver Building.

Sea of Glamour features 185 images charting the Cunard timeline, including its bond with the city of Liverpool.

Cunard said Liverpool was its "spiritual home" with the company headquarters based in Liverpool from 1840 until 1967.