HMS Queen Elizabeth begins the long voyage to Portsmouth

Britain entered a new era of naval power as the UK's largest warship ever built took to the seas for the first time earlier this week.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Jun 2017, 07:00 BST

Updated 12th Sep 2017, 11:16 BST

Proud members of the ship's company watch as the giant warship inches her way to sea for the first time. From left, Able Seaman (AB) Natasha Elford, AB Layton Toward and AB Richard Mead

HMS Queen Elizabeth – the Royal Navy’s first new aircraft carrier in a generation – successfully left her base at Rosyth, Scotland, for trials in the North Sea.

The 65,000-tonne carrier’s 733-strong ship’s company are now starting to carry out six weeks of tests of the ship’s systems.

She is scheduled to arrive in Portsmouth in the autumn.

Here’s a selection of pictures recording part of that historic day.