HMS Queen Elizabeth

Scrumpy the Jackapoo, the newest mascot of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Adorable dog Scrumpy becomes new HMS Queen Elizabeth mascot

A gun salute trial will take place at HMNB Portsmouth this week, ahead of a ceremonial firing to mark the birthday of King Charles III.

"Exclusion zone" to be set up for gun salute trial at naval base

Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales on the Suez Canal, on route to the Red Sea, as part of Op HIGHMAST, 24 May 2025.

Drone production ramping up to "increase lethality" of Royal Navy

HMS Prince of Wales (front) and HMS Queen Elizabeth. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) said both the aircraft carriers will be used as part of a Hybrid Combat Air Wing.

What is the Hybrid Combat Air Wing? Sweeping changes for carriers

HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier alongside HMS Prince of Wales, docked in Portsmouth Navy Base, which is to be upgraded. Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth adaptation announced - SDR

HMS Queen Elizabeth, as seen from HMS Prince of Wales. Here is a round up of what has been going on aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier.

What has been going on aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth?

Two Royal Family paintings were unveiled to the public aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth.

Glorious Royal Family paintings unveiled aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth

HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales have an out of service date of 2069.

Retirement dates of Royal Navy ships including aircraft carriers

Further upgrades to the Royal Navy aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales (front) and HMS Queen Elizabeth, are being considered by the Ministry of Defence.

Further upgrades to both Royal Navy carriers being considered

HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier alongside HMS Prince of Wales, docked in Portsmouth Navy Base, which is to be upgraded. The government has recently confirmed retirement dates for the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

Retirement dates set for HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Portsmouth on November 4, 2024, for sea trials. Families gathered along The Hot Walls to watch her depart.

Gun salute arranged to mark anniversary of the King's Coronation

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will leave Portsmouth and take charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific region. From left, Captain Will Blackett RN, Commanding Officer of HMS Prince of Wales; Commodore James Blackmore RN, Commander Carrier Strike Group; and Captain Colin McGannity RN, Commander Air Group.

HMS Prince of Wales set for "biggest deployment this century"

HMS Queen Elizabeth will carry out a trial alongside HMNB Portsmouth this week.

Imperious HMS Queen Elizabeth to carry out key "system trial" - when

Comments about HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth being "obsolete" in the national press have been slammed by a former Royal Navy commander. The flagship is due to visit the Indo-Pacific this Spring.

Claim of aircraft carriers being "obsolete" slammed by ex-commander

Atmospheric Gosport in 1900 wit Portsmouth beyond Portsmouth Harbour from Gosport by Neil Marshall

Memorable photos of Portsmouth docks and dockyard through the years

HMS Prince of Wales will soon be leaving Portsmouth and sail to the Indo-Pacific region as part of a major deployment. Here's all you need to know about her upcoming journey.

All you need to know about HMS Prince of Wales Indo-Pacific deployment
A behemoth aircraft carrier will soon be going on the largest Royal Navy deployment organised in the past few years.
Freddie Webb

King Charles III visits HMS Prince of Wales as the Royal Navy finalises preparations for a major global deployment to the Indo-Pacific this spring.

Watch: King Charles jokes with crew during HMS Prince of Wales visit

King Charles III visits HMS Prince of Wales as the Royal Navy finalises preparations for a major global deployment to the Indo-Pacific this spring.

King Charles III visits HMS Prince of Wales ahead of deployment

HMS Prince of Wales is the current Royal Navy flagship, assuming the title from her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth. The £3.2bn aircraft carrier weighs 65,000 tonnes.

Every Royal Navy ship that calls Portsmouth her home

New Electronic Warfare System to be installed on HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.

"Ambitious" new warfare systems tested - due to be fitted to carriers

New Electronic Warfare System to be installed on HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Advanced warfare system to be fitted to Royal Navy carriers

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth will both be fitted with new Combat Management Systems. Jobs will be generated in Portsmouth, with Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and Type 26 frigates all be fitted with the new systems.

Futuristic combat systems to be installed on aircraft carriers

Dockyard workers in Portsmouth have confirmed strike dates amid an ongoing contract row between the Ministry of Defence and Serco for tug and other infrastructure services. Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales leaving Portsmouth Harbour with a tug escort.

"Costly and dangerous mistake" faces Navy - dockyard strike dates set

British and American pilots tested themselves by flying F-35 fighter jets during a naval combat trial over Los Angeles, California.

F-35 fighter jets texted to limits during US naval air combat trial

Dockyard workers in Portsmouth have voted to strike due to an ongoing contract row between the Ministry of Defence and Serco for tug and other infrastructure services. Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales leaving Portsmouth Harbour with a tug escort.

Worried dockyard workers vote to strike amid MoD Serco contract row

David Williams, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, addressed claims in the Daily Express that the Strategic Defence Review would encourage the government to scrap either HMS Prince of Wales or HMS Queen Elizabeth, or cut 20,000 troops. He spoke to the defence select committee today (December 17).

HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales scrap rumours addressed

HMS Prince of Wales has recently been proclaimed as the current Royal Navy flagship, taking the place of her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Royal Navy flagships over the years - pictures
The Royal Navy has seen various vessels be named as the flagship over the years.
Freddie Webb

Captain Claire Thompson OBE has become the new Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, replacing the outgoing Captain Will King OBE.

Female Captain becomes new HMS Queen Elizabeth Commanding Officer

The Royal Navy flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, is returning home to Portsmouth after receiving the freedom of the city in Liverpool. She will be making preparations for her Indo-Pacific deployment next year.

HMS Prince of Wales returning home to prepare for major deployment

A drone was confiscated by police while the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales visited Liverpool.

Mystery drone which flew close to HMS Prince of Wales seized

Stunning pictures as HMS Prince of Wales arrives in Liverpool

An expert has said Russia or China can't be ruled out of orchestrating drones which flew over airbases. A similar aircraft was seen shadowing HMS Queen Elizabeth in Germany. Pictured: The entrance of RAF (Royal Air Force) Lakenheath, home of the US Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing.

Russia shouldn't be ruled out after drones seen over airbases - expert

HMS Prince of Wales has become the new flagship of the Royal Navy, taking the helm from HMS Queen Elizabeth.

HMS Prince of Wales named new Royal Navy flagship

HMS Queen Elizabeth will return to Portsmouth this evening following a diplomatic visit to Germany and a recent run-in with a drone.
Pictured: HMS Queen Elizabeth conducted some flying training as well as boat drills on November 26.

HMS Queen Elizabeth return to Portsmouth rescheduled - when

HMS Queen Elizabeth was tailed by an unidentified drone as she was leaving the German port of Hamburg.

Criminal probe into drone incursions after carrier’s close encounter

HMS Queen Elizabeth will be returning to Portsmouth following a visit to Hamburg, Germany.

HMS Queen Elizabeth's return home to city delayed after Germany visit

HMS Queen Elizabeth was tailed by an unidentified drone as she was leaving the German port of Hamburg.

Drones seen flying over air bases after stalking HMS Queen Elizabeth

Defence secretary John Healey addressed the future of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales in parliament after being questioned by the Defence Select Committee.

Future of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth addressed

National reports have speculated that one of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales could be mothballed in a bid for the Treasury to save money. Rumours resurfaced earlier this year that HMS Prince of Wales could be sold. Pictured: HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Discussions held to mothball Royal Navy carriers, report says

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Portsmouth on November 4, 2024, for sea trials. She is now in Germany hosting diplomatic conferences.

HMS Queen Elizabeth visits Germany shortly after helicopter drills

The Times reports that HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales would get sunk in most war games scenarios, which the Royal Navy denies.

Royal Navy aircraft carriers would "get sunk" in most war games

The upper flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth was sprayed heavily with water while on sea trials.

HMS Queen Elizabeth flight deck sprayed heavily with water - why

Merlin Mk4 helicopters from 846 Naval Air Squadron arrive at the camp in Devon ahead of the gruelling exercise.

Gruelling front-line exercise preps pilots for front-line - pictures

Lt Keaton Layland-Jones has assumed command of HMS Puncher, with the previous Commanding Officer Lt Alex Snow making way.

Honoured lieutenant takes charge of HMS Puncher ahead of busy schedule

Fareham and Waterlooville MP Suella Braverman said HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth are "underpowered" and need help from a bolstered Royal Navy fleet.

"Underpowered" aircraft carriers need help, Suella Braverman says

Pilots aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth have been undertaking aviation drills after leaving Portsmouth earlier this week.

Vital HMS Queen Elizabeth aviation drills start

The force fired its new Martlet missile from a Wildcat combat helicopter to take down a drone flying at hundreds of miles an hour over the Bristol Channel.

Deadly helicopter missile shoots down drone in landmark test

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Portsmouth on November 4, 2024, for sea trials.

Watch: Spectacular drone footage of HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving city

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Portsmouth on November 4, 2024, for sea trials. Families gathered along The Hot Walls to watch her depart.

"Proud" families watch HMS Queen Elizabeth leave Portsmouth

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to leave Portsmouth on November 4, 2024 Picture: Habibur Rahman

HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to leave city to continue training

Peter Prinsley, Labour MP for Bury St Edmonds and Stowmarket, suggested that over £100m should be given to the BBC World Service instead of acquiring more F-35 Fighter Jets. They are used alongside Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

MP believes £100m spent on F-35 fighter jets should go to BBC instead

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Portsmouth on October 21, 2024, as crowds gather at The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth and along The Hot Walls to watch the aircraft carrier leave.

Why HMS Queen Elizabeth is leaving Portsmouth - crowds see her depart

A contract has been awarded by the MoD to support Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary

HMS Queen Elizabeth to depart Portsmouth - find out when

A Sea Venom missile was successfully fired from a Royal Navy wildcat helicopter for the first time. It is hoped the weapon can be used alongside UK Carrier Strike Groups to protect HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Watch: Deadly new missile shot from helicopter in successful test

The government is reviewing how HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth will be deployed in the future, as well as looking into the nation’s future aircraft capability and how aircraft will be utilised.

Future carrier deployments to be reviewed amid RAF bolstering plan

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