Dec 08, 2017, 04.12 PM IST
The Queen's namesake
Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Britain's biggest warship, the future flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, into the Royal Navy on December 7 at a ceremony in the Portsmouth naval base.
AFP
Newest and biggest
The ship can operate with a crew of 1,000 and 40 aircraft on deck, and measures 280 metres in length and weighs 65,000 tonnes.
The British monarch was accompanied by her daughter Princess Anne along with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, Xinhua news agency reported.
The British monarch was accompanied by her daughter Princess Anne along with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, Xinhua news agency reported.
AFP
Commissioning of the HMS Queen Elizabeth
After addressing the crowd at the ceremony, the Queen watched as the iconic White Ensign was then raised, symbolizing the commissioning of the HMS Queen Elizabeth into the Royal Navy's fleet.
The Queen said the ceremony was taking place close to where the Royal Navy's famous warship, Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory stands, describing it as a flagship of Britain's seafaring past.
The Queen said the ceremony was taking place close to where the Royal Navy's famous warship, Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory stands, describing it as a flagship of Britain's seafaring past.
AFP
Will head to the US
HMS Queen Elizabeth represents the best in technology and innovation, she said. Elizabeth II had named the ship in 2014, smashing a bottle of whisky on its side, but it is not expected to be fully operational until 2021.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will head to the US for initial flight trials off the coast in autumn 2018. There are currently 150 Royal Navy and RAF personnel training in the US on 13 F-35 jets.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will head to the US for initial flight trials off the coast in autumn 2018. There are currently 150 Royal Navy and RAF personnel training in the US on 13 F-35 jets.
Reuters
Busy year for Royal Navy
Defence Secretary Williamson said an extraordinarily busy year for the Royal Navy has seen it name the second carrier -- HMS Prince of Wales.
The navy initially estimated both ships would cost 3.5 billion British pounds ($4.7 billion) to build, but the total figure was revised to 6.2 billion British pounds.
The second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, was named in Rosyth and is now structurally complete.
The navy initially estimated both ships would cost 3.5 billion British pounds ($4.7 billion) to build, but the total figure was revised to 6.2 billion British pounds.
The second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, was named in Rosyth and is now structurally complete.
Reuters
Role of a warship
Britain has been without any carrier strike capability since the government scrapped previous vessels in 2010 as part of austerity measures to curb a huge deficit.
The project had been dogged by questions about the US- built F-35 jets, due to be deployed on the aircraft carrier, and about the need for mammoth aircraft carriers when Britain's military role in the world has diminished.
The F-35 stealth fighter, which is being built by the US in conjunction with Britain and other countries, has been heavily criticised for its high price tag and a series of delays over air safety concerns.
The project had been dogged by questions about the US- built F-35 jets, due to be deployed on the aircraft carrier, and about the need for mammoth aircraft carriers when Britain's military role in the world has diminished.
The F-35 stealth fighter, which is being built by the US in conjunction with Britain and other countries, has been heavily criticised for its high price tag and a series of delays over air safety concerns.
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