HMS Queen Elizabeth returns home to Portsmouth

The Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth has returned to her home in Portsmouth today.

Spectators gathered along the Round Tower to welcome the aircraft carrier home.

The 65,000-tonne carrier had been taking part in the multinational GroupEx and Joint Warrior exercises in the North Sea over the last month - in one of its final hurdles before being declared operational. 

The 65,000-tonne carrier had been taking part in the multinational exercises

During the sailing, the £3 billion warship was at the centre of the strike group which was made up of nine ships, 15 fighter jets, 11 helicopters and 3,000 personnel from the UK, US and the Netherlands.

The Royal Navy described the gathering as "the largest and most powerful European-led maritime force in almost 20 years".

It included taking on board both UK and US F35B Lightning jets for the first time.

The £3 billion warship was at the centre of the strike group during the sailing

The ship's departure from Portsmouth for the exercises was delayed after a small number of crew tested positive for Covid-19, and because of changing weather forecasts. The Queen Elizabeth is expected to depart for its maiden operational deployment next year.

Spectators gathered along the Round Tower to welcome HMS Queen Elizabeth home

The carrier strike group included destroyers - the Royal Navy's Type 45s HMS Diamond and HMS Defender and US Navy Arleigh Burke-class USS The Sullivans - as well as frigates HMS Northumberland and HMS Kent from the UK, and the Dutch Navy's HNLMS Evertsen.

They are tasked with protecting the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers from enemy ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles, as well as carrying out a range of support missions, from maritime security to disaster relief.

Two Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships - RFA Tideforce and RFA Fort Victoria - were also involved to supply fuel, food, spares and ammunition, to enable sustained operations at sea.