Royal Navy: HMS Queen Elizabeth carries out gun salute at Isle of Wight Cowes Week regatta

HMS Queen Elizabeth and her company took centre stage at the Cowes week regatta yesterday.

The 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier conducted a sail past off the coast of the Isle of Wight, as part of her trip home to Portsmouth from Rosyth, Fife, Scotland. She exchanged gun salutes with the Royal Yacht Squadron.

NOW READ: Watch the Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth returns home to Portsmouth

Crowds gathered in their numbers to watch the spectacle and see the aircraft carrier in all her glory. HMS Tyne, also based in Portsmouth, acted as the event’s guardship.

HMS Queen Elizabeth left Rosyth on July 22 and sailed into the Portsmouth dockyard yesterday evening. Well-wishers packed The Round Tower and lined up along the Hot Walls to welcome her home. She left in February after suffering from a starboard propeller shaft misalignment fault, which has since been fixed. Engineers have also upgraded the carrier, the Royal navy said.

Commanding Officer Captain Will King said the ship’s crew are preparing for frontline operations this Autumn.

5. HMS Queen Elizabeth Cowes Week regatta

Pictured: Commodore Rob Bellfield gives three cheers from the Royal Yacht Squadron as HMS Queen Elizabeth enters the Solent off of Cowes. Photo: Royal Navy