Crowds wave as HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth

The aircraft carrier returned at around 2pm from four days of training at sea, and will remain in Portsmouth less than a week as it collects supplies for F-35B fighter jet trials.

For Nicola and Fred Lewis, from Neath, Wales, the three-hour journey this morning was ‘completely worth it’ for their first view of the 65,000-tonne vessel - which has their daughter serving onboard.

Nicola said: ‘We heard she was coming back and made the decision to come down late last night.

‘It’s an absolutely stunning sight. I cannot believe how close it was.’

The proud mum added her daughter, Sian, ‘absolutely loves’ serving in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot, fulfilling a childhood ambition.

And the Round Tower had a visitor fulfil their own three-year ambition to finally see one of Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers sail past the city.

Lorna Taylor, a receptionist from Rugby, drove for four hours this morning to catch sight of the titanic vessel sail past.

The 56-year-old said: ‘I’ve always been really interested in aircraft carriers since seeing the TV Show Sailor in the 70s.

‘I’ve tried several times over the last three years - one time the ship left a day early and another time I had to go home because she was delayed.

‘There’s been a lot of days I haven’t been able to make it because I’ve been working.

‘So today I did have a tear in my eye.’

READ NEXT: Royal Navy flagship HMS Albion is second ship hit by Covid-19 as some crew test positive for virus

The day also proved emotional for Anthony Hart, who had served as a gunnery yeoman on HMS Devonshire for four years and had come to Portsmouth for a holiday with friends.

The 66-year-old from Birmingham said: ‘This is my first time seeing one of the aircraft carriers - I have always wanted to come down.

‘My friend saw the Isle of Wight ferry and asked, “is it as big as that?”

‘I said “you could fit that on the flight deck”.

‘I feel very emotional - more than proud to have the chance to see it.’

HMS Queen Elizabeth will remain in port for less than a week before embarking to undertake trials with the F-35B stealth fighter jet.

She will then join a multi-national task group for further training.

The date of her departure next week has not been confirmed.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.