Royal Navy: 23 heartwarming photos capturing the moment families are reunited after HMS Defender and HMS Diamond return to Portsmouth

By Matthew Mohan-Hickson

Digitial Reporter

Published 9th Dec 2021, 16:38 BST

Updated 11th Dec 2021, 16:37 BST

THESE were the heartwarming scenes at the naval base in Portsmouth as families were reunited in time for Christmas.

HMS Defender and HMS Diamond sailed back into port on Thursday after seven month deployments as part of the Carrier Strike Group.

Families were waiting at Portsmouth naval base waiting to greet the sailors as they disembarked.

MORE: 'Incredible strength' of Royal Navy sailors praised by captain of HMS Diamond as ship returns to Portsmouth for Christmas

You can see 23 photos capturing the heartwarming moments loved ones were reunited in our gallery below.

Make sure to click through all the pages!

Follow all our latest updates as HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth here.

Subscribe here for unlimited access to all our coverage, including Pompey, for just 26p a day.

1. HMS Diamond

Graham Gregory with daughter Iris after HMS Diamond returned to Portsmouth. Picture: Habibur Rahman Photo: Habibur Rahman

Photo Sales

2. HMS Diamond

Jackie McFarlane, with son, Peter and Irene McFarlane at HMS Diamond's homecoming. Picture: Habibur Rahman Photo: Habibur Rahman

Photo Sales

3. HMS Diamond

Samantha and Jonathan Lovell, Georgina 10 months and Cameron, seven, near HMS Diamond. Picture: Habibur Rahman Photo: Habibur Rahman

Photo Sales

4. HMS Diamond

Steph Leonard with husband Lt Cdr Tom Leonard and their children Penny, seven, and Sebby, four, at HMS Diamond's homecoming. Picture: Habibur Rahman Photo: Habibur Rahman

Photo Sales