Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth suffers common Portsmouth problem - returning home to find its 'parking spot' nabbed

The huge aircraft carrier arrived home in Portsmouth at around 8.30pm on Tuesday evening after undertaking trials around Devon earlier in the week.

But 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier returned to a familiar Portsmouth problem – finding its regular parking spot had been nabbed in its absence.

In a post on social media, a sailor onboard said: ‘That feeling when you get home late at night and someone’s in your parking spot.

‘Don’t worry HMS Defender, we think it’s the best berth (at) HMNB Portsmouth too.’

The £3bn aircraft carrier returns to the city after undergoing vital firefighting training during its most recent exercises at sea.

Crew have been put through their paces as they navigated smoke-filled corridors so they are ready to tackle a real blaze onboard the 280m-long warship.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is supported by around 3,700 personnel when operating at full capacity.