Queen Elizabeth II talks to military personnel during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, ahead of the ship's maiden deployment. The visit comes as HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group on a 28-week operational deployment travelling over 26,000 nautical miles from the Mediterranean to the Philippine Sea. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA WireQueen Elizabeth II talks to military personnel during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, ahead of the ship's maiden deployment. The visit comes as HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group on a 28-week operational deployment travelling over 26,000 nautical miles from the Mediterranean to the Philippine Sea. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Queen Elizabeth II talks to military personnel during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, ahead of the ship's maiden deployment. The visit comes as HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group on a 28-week operational deployment travelling over 26,000 nautical miles from the Mediterranean to the Philippine Sea. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

HMS Queen Elizabeth: Queen visits Portsmouth as flagship prepares for maiden deployment - in pictures

THE Queen has visited Portsmouth today ahead of navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth sailing tonight.

She is onboard the £3.2bn warship, now the flagship of the Royal Navy, before the vessel deploys to the Far East with the Carrier Strike Group this evening.

Here is the head of state’s visit in pictures.

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