Who is HMS Queen Elizabeth's captain? Meet the Royal Navy aircraft carrier's commanding officer Captain Angus Essenhigh

In January Captain Angus Essenhigh was appointed as the third man to lead the mighty Royal Navy carrier in eight months.

It followed the sacking of Commodore Nick-Cooke Priest – who had taken over from Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd - and the promotion of Commodore Steve Moorhouse earlier this year.

Captain Essenhigh joined the navy in 1992 and since then has taken charge of some of its smallest boats – but he is now at the helm of the 65,000-tonne behemoth.

Here is everything you need to know about HMS Queen Elizabeth’s captain:

Who is Captain Angus Essenhigh?

After joining the Royal Navy, Captain Essenhigh went on to earn a degree in French, Russian and philosophy from Durham University.

His early naval service included seagoing assignments in minesweepers, frigates and a role as navigating officer of an American destroyer.

He returned to the UK in 2002 to command two P2000 patrol boats; the first attached to Oxford University Royal Naval Unit and the second based in Cyprus as part of Operation Telic – the British codename used for the war in Iraq.

In 2006 he joined the ranks of HMS Kent after qualifying as a principal warfare officer, and completed a six-month deployment to the Gulf in support of Op Telic.

Roles working as an air warfare officer on £1bn destroyer HMS Daring followed before he assumed command of both Mine Counter Measures 1 Crew 2 in May 2010 where he commanded three minehunters - including a seven-month stint on HMS Pembroke in the Gulf.

In 2012, he took command of his old ship, Daring, tackling a nine-month global tour before being promoted to Captain in 2016.

He assumed command of ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, working two seasons in and around Antarctica.

What did he say about his appointment?

Speaking in January Captain Essenhigh said: ‘It’s a huge honour to take command of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most complex platform the Royal Navy has ever built.

‘I join at an exciting time for the ship following a very successful operational test deployment with UK F-35 off the east coast of the USA last year, and as she continues her development towards the first operational deployment in 2021.’

SEE ALSO: ‘Jealous’ American F-35 fighter pilots 'champing at the bit’ to fly from HMS Queen Elizabeth

When will HMS Queen Elizabeth enter active service?

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to begin operational missions in 2021.

The £3.1 billion carrier is expected to make her way from Portsmouth early next year, heading to the Mediterranean and Gulf before heading to the Far East.

For the rest of 2020 she will be carrying out training at sea ahead of her first deployment.

When she embarks on her lengthy voyage, she will carry two squadrons of F-35B Lightning II stealth combat jets – one from American and one from the UK – and will be shadowed by two Type 45 destroyers, two Type 23 frigates, two tankers and helicopters.

There have been claims that HMS Queen Elizabeth will be involved in joint military exercises with allies such as the United States and Japan, amid simmering tensions with China over the Huawei network.

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