HMS Queen Elizabeth covers for stricken ship

Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth is to stand in for its sister ship during diplomatic visits and military exercises off the US coast after HMS Prince of Wales broke down.

The £3 billion warship left from Portsmouth Naval Base last Saturday before an “emerging mechanical issue” occurred off the Isle of Wight.

Navy divers found that a coupling on the propeller shaft had failed.

HMS Prince of Wales had been sailing to undertake training exercises with the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The programme was expected to include exercises with F-35B Lightning jets.