The Royal Navy's flagship, and first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, arrived back at Portsmouth Harbour this afternoon (Friday, February 24) to the delight of onlookers who watched her return and took their own pictures and video. She is limbering up for a busy 2023 on operations with a series of exercises, aircrew training and operations in European waters this year.
Pictures and video by Chris Moorhouse.
NOW READ: ‘HMS Prince of Wales - The Royal Navy ship hitting the headlines after it broke down at sea’
![HMS Queen Elizabeth approaches the newly reopened walkway on the sea defences at Long Curtain Moat](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhiMDFmZjk5LTU3YWMtNDRmYS1iYWU0LTI3YmY1ZjU0YzRjNTo3MzQ5NGQxNC00ZjAxLTQ1ZDktYmE2ZS1iYTBjMTY4MzU3ZTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth
HMS Queen Elizabeth approaches the newly reopened walkway on the sea defences at Long Curtain Moat Photo: Chris Moorhouse
![Delighted onlookers watch HMS Queen Elizabeth returning to Portsmouth Naval Base](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI4YTNmYTg3LTk3MTktNDNmZS1iZmU4LWQ5YzE2Zjg2MjI2NjowYjgzNDUxMS1hZjI4LTQ4YTUtYWIxOC1hNDIyZmMyNTY0Yjk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth
Delighted onlookers watch HMS Queen Elizabeth returning to Portsmouth Naval Base Photo: Chris Moorhouse
![HMS Queen Elizabeth approaches the newly reopened walkway on the sea defences at Long Curtain Moat, as she returns to Portsmouth Naval Base.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU4NWZlODY1LWExOGEtNGNlYS05NzkxLWVlOGNlMzE5ODk5MDoxZjZiMTA3MC02MTQxLTQxZGEtOGEzMi01YTAyMmNkMzY4MDc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth
HMS Queen Elizabeth approaches the newly reopened walkway on the sea defences at Long Curtain Moat, as she returns to Portsmouth Naval Base. Photo: Chris Moorhouse
![HMS Queen Elizabeth approaches the newly reopened walkway on the sea defences at Long Curtain Moat, as she returns to Portsmouth Naval Base](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhmOTI0YWRhLTM3M2UtNDk5My1hZjdlLTI0MjE4YWY5NTZiNDo2ODk5YWU3OC03YmIyLTQ5NGEtOGQ3My1iZDcyNTNlMTU1ZWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth
HMS Queen Elizabeth approaches the newly reopened walkway on the sea defences at Long Curtain Moat, as she returns to Portsmouth Naval Base Photo: Chris Moorhouse