HMS Prince of Wales Returns to Portsmouth in Stunning Autumn Sunshine

On Friday afternoon, HMS Prince of Wales made a grand entrance past The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth, drawing a crowd of onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of the impressive 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier. The scene was a picture of autumnal beauty, with families and enthusiasts lining the Hot Walls to watch the vessel glide by in the unexpectedly bright sunshine.

Many waved enthusiastically at the personnel aboard, while others took a moment to sit along the Hot Walls, simply taking in the sight of the majestic ship as it made its way towards the harbour. Military police were stationed to ensure the carrier's safety as it was carefully escorted into HMNB Portsmouth.

Despite a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms issued by the Met Office earlier in the week, the HMS Prince of Wales was met with calm seas and warm, summer-like conditions, making for a serene and picturesque return. Some of the ship’s crew took the opportunity to wave back at the crowd gathered at The Round Tower.

The return marked the end of an intense period of Operational Sea Training for the ship’s company, who have spent the past few weeks preparing for various peacetime emergencies at sea, practicing drills that included fighting simulated fires and handling other emergency scenarios. As part of their training, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey helicopters, operated by American pilots, made several landings on the carrier's flight deck during flying missions.

Additionally, aircraft personnel from the 815 Naval Air Squadron conducted night-flying exercises, using HMS Prince of Wales as their operational base. Similar exercises were also carried out by the fleet's flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, as both carriers and their personnel prepare for future deployments.