Well-wishers wave off Royal Navy aircraft carrier as it sails for sea trials

Loved ones cheered from the Round Tower and sea walls as sailors on board looked out from hatches on the side of the 65,000 tonne warship.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Harbour (Ben Mitchell/PA) (PA Wire)

Families and well-wishers have lined the harbour walls to wave off the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it set sail for training exercises.

The fleet flagship left Portsmouth Naval Base for two weeks of sea trials which involve the ship’s helicopters and jets.

Loved ones cheered from the Round Tower and sea walls as sailors on board looked out from hatches on the side of the 65,000 tonne warship.

Ahead of sailing, the ship posted on Twitter: “The first female FDO (Flight Deck Officer) on a QE Class carrier has brought on the first of our aircraft as we make preparations to sail. Flying jets and helos, the next two weeks will prove our Carrier Strike capability as we prepare for our #CSG23 deployment.”

A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: “HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to leave His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth to embark on her next stage of training and trials.

“The ship will remain in UK waters for these trials which are in preparation for her Carrier Strike deployment later in the year.”

The departure comes as sister ship HMS Prince of Wales has been undergoing repairs in Rosyth after it suffered a driveshaft failure off the Isle of Wight last August.

The MoD has denied the ship has been “cannibalised” for parts for HMS Queen Elizabeth, and said it is expected to return to its operational programme in the autumn.