HMS Queen Elizabeth to go back into maintenance soon shortly after returning to Portsmouth and Nato exercises
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The 65,000 tonne carrier will join Nato’s Allied Response Force, but then will be back on the side-lines again
A Royal Navy aircraft carrier is set for a busy period at sea after returning to Portsmouth - but will soon be back on the side-lines again.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will be completing various trials and Nato exercises soon. She completed her second planned docking period at the Rosyth dry dock in Scotland last month, and was greeted by proud families on her return to HMNB Portsmouth on April 27.
The 65,000 tonne carrier started her second planned docking period in September 2025 after mechanical problems were discovered during routine machinery trials. This involved an extensive period of engineering work to keep the carrier up to date. During the first phase of the overhaul, significant upgrades were made to her propulsion systems and other parts of the warship.
More than a quarter of the HMS Queen Elizabeth ship’s company - comprising of a rough total of 700 - went to sea for the first time during her journey from Rosyth to Portsmouth. Since being back in her home port, personnel were treated to an exciting display from the Royal Navy Parachute Display team. Three personnel were involved in the sky-dive, landing on the carrier’s flight deck in what was the first ever planned landing on board a warship in a thrilling “welcome home display”.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will go through a short refuelling period at base before continuing her programme of trials. She will head into another planned maintenance period in June.
The £3.2bn warship will soon be leaving HMNB Portsmouth for training exercises and other activities in the coming months. This includes being the UK representative of Nato’s Allied Response Force (Maritime). Earlier this year, the force undertook Exercise Steadfast Dart in the Baltic Sea in order to boost security in the region. The Nato Information Centre said the drill was “an excellent opportunity to raise training standards and enhance interoperability, while strengthening Allied cohesion and reinforcing the deterrence and defence posture of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.
They added: “These elements are essential to ensuring forces remain ready, prepared, and capable of responding whenever and wherever required in the event of a crisis or contingency.” While activated with the allied force, HMS Queen Elizabeth will be readied to protect the UK at a moment’s notice should any situation arise.