Fleet reviews can also include ships from other navies.
A few national navies continue to hold the reviews.
The International Fleet Review in 2005 was the most recent Royal Navy review, continuing a tradition going back to the 15th century. It took place on 28 June, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
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The Queen reviewed the fleet from on board the Royal Navy's Antarctic Patrol Vessel HMS Endurance. Huge crowds gathered along Southsea Common and Gosport Sea Front, to witness the largest gathering of naval vessels in the Solent since the Queen's Silver Jubilee Fleet Review in 1977.
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17. Memories of Portsmouth Fleet Review
A view from the beach of part of the 1914 Fleet Review which contained 59 battleships. Photo: The News archive
18. Memories of Portsmouth Fleet Review
File photo dated 28/06/05 of a tall ship The Grand Turk (foreground) passing by French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle during the International Fleet Review at Spithead, off Portsmouth. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday February 20, 2009. A ship that starred in the TV show Hornblower is up for sale for £1.75 million. The fully-rigged 152ft tall ship, called The Grand Turk, is a replica of the 18th century British frigate HMS Phoenix and was built in 1997 in Marmaris, Turkey. See PA story SEA Hornblower. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire Photo: The News archive