This photograph, captioned 'Royal Queen and Party,' documents the U.S. Navy's traditional Crossing the Line ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42). Held whenever a ship crosses the Equator, the ceremony transforms select crew members into King Neptune's royal court, complete with improvised crowns and costumes, to preside over the initiation of first-time equator crossers, known as 'pollywogs,' into the ranks of trusty 'shellbacks.' This enduring naval custom, rooted in centuries of maritime tradition, provided both entertainment and a rite of passage for sailors during long deployments. Project: 218371