HMS Queen Elizabeth begins the long voyage to Portsmouth
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Feb 2019, 14:03 GMT
Britain entered a new era of naval power as the UK's largest warship ever built took to the seas for the first time earlier this week.
HMS Queen Elizabeth – the Royal Navy’s first new aircraft carrier in a generation – successfully left her base at Rosyth, Scotland, for trials in the North Sea.
Proud members of the ship's company watch as the giant warship inches her way to sea for the first time. From left, Able Seaman (AB) Natasha Elford, AB Layton Toward and AB Richard Mead
The 65,000-tonne carrier’s 733-strong ship’s company are now starting to carry out six weeks of tests of the ship’s systems.
She is scheduled to arrive in Portsmouth in the autumn.
Commanding Officer, HMS Queen Elizabeth Captain Jerry Kid, signing the Certificate of Seaworthiness prior to the ship sailing from Rosyth
Here’s a selection of pictures recording part of that historic day.
Four acres of sovereign territory, the 65,000-tonne carrier is about to start sea trails. Deployable across the globe she is expected to serve the United Kingdom on operations for 50 years alongside her sister ship HMS Prine of Wales
Chief Petty Office Physical Training Instructor Andrew Vercoe on HMS Queen Elizabeth's bridge
Able Seaman Jess Hewes logs the ship's events in the ship's log as she sails out for the first time
Able Seaman Robyn Wright guards the ship as she sails
HMS Queen Elizabeth's captain Jerry Kid and the Commander monitoring progress as the ship sails out of the basin
