HMS Queen Elizabeth: Royal Navy carrier leaves for sea as lockdown keeps crowds from cheering on its departure

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier left Stokes Bay without the usual well-wishes from residents, with those gathering to watch its departure practising safe social distancing along the shoreline in Gosport.

The £3.1bn ship will sail along the south coast to undertake simulated battle training, as well as preparations in the event of a flood or fire onboard.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘Over the next few weeks she’ll be undergoing training and assessment with the Flag Officer Sea Training (Fost) staff, one of the last key milestones before she is declared ready to deliver carrier strike operations.

‘HMS Queen Elizabeth will be operating around the south coast facing simulated battles, fires and floods, as well as warfare training and full mission rehearsals.’

The ship, which has a capacity for 40 aircraft, will also undertake UK F-35 Lightning qualifying flights, carrying on the work that began when the stealth fighters took off from the ship for the first time last December.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and its 700 crew members had been anchored off Gosport since Thursday May 7.

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