Glorious sunshine greeted HMS Queen Elizabeth as she made a long awaited return to Portsmouth on Monday, April 27 after nine months away for ‘extended maintenance’.
She returned this morning, with a number of people gathering in Old Portsmouth to watch her return home - just days after her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales departed the city to prepare for a deployment.
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier left the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, Scotland, on Sunday (April 19)and had been at anchor in the Firth of Forth since then before leaving under the bridge for sea trials on Thursday (April 23).
As previously reported by The News, the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier left Portsmouth on July 16, 2025, bound for Scotland while carrying out sea trials en-route. She had her propulsion systems upgraded beforehand following earlier problems, but mechanical problems were found while alongside HMNB Portsmouth during routine machinery trials.
Pictures: Sarah Standing and Habibur Rahman
1. HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth looks glorious as she returns to Portsmouth after major revamp on Monday 27th April 2026 Pictured: People at the Round Tower watching as she comes in Picture: Habibur Rahman | Habibur Rahman
2. HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth looks glorious as she returns to Portsmouth after major revamp on Monday 27th April 2026 Pictured: People at the Round Tower watching as she comes in Picture: Habibur Rahman | Habibur Rahman
3. HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth looks glorious as she returns to Portsmouth after major revamp on Monday 27th April 2026 Pictured: People at the Round Tower watching as she comes in Picture: Habibur Rahman | Habibur Rahman
4. HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth looks glorious as she returns to Portsmouth after major revamp on Monday 27th April 2026 Pictured: People at the Round Tower watching as she comes in Picture: Habibur Rahman | Habibur Rahman