Royal Navy aircraft carrier departs for training

HMS Queen Elizabeth has set sail with hundreds of sailors to take part in a pre-planned deployment around the UK and northern Europe.

The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier, which was commissioned into service in 2017, left Portsmouth Naval Base at about 18:20 BST on Saturday.

Over the next three months, the £3.2bn warship and her crew of more than 800 sailors will take part in an intensive programme of training, the Royal Navy said.

The deployment marks the vessels first official sailing as Nato's command ship for the Allied Response Force - a designation it received in July this year.

As part of the operation, the carrier will rehearse how an Allied naval force would operate together in the event of a crisis, the Navy said.

This work, the Navy said, would aim to "enhance collective security, deterrence and readiness" among the UK and its allies.

"We've returned from summer leave rested and ready for the next phase of our training," HMS Queen Elizabeth's commanding officer Capt Claire Thompson said ahead of the departure.

"Sailing with an embarked battle staff, integration and training is essential whilst relearning the skills required to conduct safe and effective aviation as we ensure that we are prepared to deliver operational activity at the heart of Nato should it be required," she said.

Capt Thompson added that the deployment was a "key milestone" for both the vessel's Nato role and its "journey back to the Royal Navy's 'very high readiness' aircraft carrier".

HMS Queen Elizabeth is set to take the latter role on from its sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, next year.

Annie Hoare was among family members waving off HMS Queen Elizabeth from the shore, as her son Thomas is a Petty Officer Weapons Engineer onboard.

She said: "Watching a boat that big and knowing your son is part of this is absolutely an amazing feeling, we are all so proud."

Her son has been in the Navy since 2018 and sent out on deployments in the past.

Hoare admitted the "information blackouts" could be challenging but she praised the support the Navy provides for those who are missing their loved ones.

"The navy is amazing and really supports families and they have really turned my son into a fine young gentleman," she said.