Queen commissions namesake warship
BRITAIN: The Queen has attended the commissioning ceremony of Britain’s new aircraft carrier, which is named after her.
The 91-year-old monarch boarded the Royal Navy’s newest, largest and most expensive vessel yesterday at Portsmouth naval base. The white ensign was raised to mark the moment HMS Queen Elizabeth was officially added to the Royal Navy’s fleet.
The Queen said the ship ‘‘embodies the best of British technology and innovation’'.
It is still undergoing sea trials, and will not be fully operational for several years. It will head to the United States late next year for initial flight trials.
Admiral Philip Jones said that with the new carrier ‘‘Britain has confirmed her place among the world’s great maritime powers’'.
The ship cost roughly £3 billion (NZ$5.9 billion) to build. –AP