HMS Queen Elizabeth: 32 stunning pictures of Royal Navy carrier over the years from her construction through to USA deployment
By Matthew Mohan-Hickson
Published 25th Feb 2019, 15:27 BST
Updated 14th Jun 2019, 17:13 BST
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the future flagship of the Royal Navy and will enter active service in the next decade.
However she has already been on a number of adventures, from her first arrival in Portsmouth through to her deployment to the east coast of the U.S. for Westlant 18. Here are pictures of the aircraft carrier over the years:
HMS Queen Elizabeth through the years
A ship builder works on a section of HMS Queen Elizabeth at BAE Systems in Portsmouth in December 2010. She was built in parts at sites across the country including our city, Glasgow and Rosyth. Picture: Chris Ison/PA Wire
Parts of the HMS Queen Elizabeth in construction with Portsmouth Naval Base in December 2010. Picture: Sarah Standing (104168-1047)
Nick East, mechanical manager and Kevin Lee, electrical manager, infront of parts of the HMS Queen Elizabeth in construction with Portsmouth Naval Base in 2010. Picture: Sarah Standing (104168-1126)
The pieces of HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Rosyth to be assembled in 2012. Picture: Freelance
Workers at Babcock's, Rosyth shipyard, in Scotland, work to assemble the separate pieces of HMS Queen Elizabeth together in December 2012. Picture: Allan Hutchings (123920-279)
Ship builders in Rosyth worked to put together the separate pieces of HMS Queen Elizabeth which had been built across the country, including in her future home Portsmouth. Picture: Allan Hutchings (123920-260)
Tom Gifford at the front HMS Queen Elizabeth in December 2012 - when the future Royal Navy flagship was starting to take shape. Picture: Allan Hutchings (123920-409)
Construction work continues on HMS Queen Elizabeth at the dry dock in Rosyth, Scotland. Picture: Ken Whitcombe
Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II officially named HMS Queen Elizabeth during a ceremony in Rosyth in 2014. She is not however named after the current UK monarch, instead getting her name from Elizabeth I. Picture: CPOA(Phot) Thomas Tam McDonald
HMS Queen Elizabeth finally takes to the water, however she is still under construction. Picture: Andrew Linnett/ MoD
HMS Queen Elizabeth set sail on June 26, 2017, from Rosyth to begin contractor sea trials after nearly a decade under construction. Pictured are Able Seaman (AB) Natasha Elford, AB Layton Toward and AB Richard Mead. Picture: Royal Navy
HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Portsmouth for the first time on August 16, 2017 having sailed from Rosyth. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Armed police chat as HMS Queen Elizabeth sails into her home port of Portsmouth Naval Base on August 16, 2017. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images
Huge crowds gathered across the city to welcome HMS Queen Elizabeth as she arrived in Portsmouth for the first time on August 16, 2017. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Commodore Jerry Kyd (R), listens as Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May stands on the flight deck and speaks to crew members of HMS Queen Elizabeth after she arrived in Portsmouth for first time. Picture: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
