We are smiling

■ SAILORS from HMS Northumberland and the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth get a rapturous welcome home after three months at sea.

■ The frigate Northumberland, which had acted as escort to the carrier, returned to her home port Plymouth, where families were waiting to embrace them.

The crew and their loved ones were all smiles as they were reunited on the dockside just in time for Christmas.

■ Meanwhile HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into Portsmouth after a voyage with its support group to the US to test out its F-35B Lightning jets.

■ The carrier docked alongside newly built sister ship Prince of Wales, which will be commissioned this month by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.