Young Officers from Britannia Royal Naval College were able to get a close look at the Royal Navy’s future Flagship when HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed past the River Dart last week.

The new ship, which was only commissioned into the Royal Navy last December, was returning to her home-port of Portsmouth following exercises in the South West approaches.

Four picket boats and two rigid inflatable boats were despatched from the College following a call from the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Jerry Kyd, to say the 65,000 tonnes vessel would be in the vicinity.

Lieutenant Commander Mike Garner, BRNC’s navigation training officer, said: “The picket boats were crewed by a mix of warfare officers undertaking their foundation course and some who are destined for a career in Naval aviation. One day they could find themselves serving on this fantastic warship. Four Young Officers were lucky enough to be invited on board for a brief tour and a visit to the bridge to meet the Commanding Officer. It was a great experience for them all to see HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea and get a taste of where their future may lie.”

Midshipman Owen Long was one of the Young Officers who went to meet the ship. He said: “I’ve seen HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth before so I know she’s massive but being right next to her in something as small as a picket boat puts the size into perspective. It’s certainly got the desired effect of power projection, showing what Britain is still capable of. She’s a popular ship which was proven in the number of Young Officers volunteering to go see her on Friday afternoon.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the biggest and most powerful warship built for the Royal Navy. Capt Jerry Kyd is a former Commanding Officer of BRNC and took command of the Aircraft Carrier in 2015.

He said: “It was fantastic to be able to stop by Dartmouth for a few hours on our way home to Portsmouth. As an ex-Captain of Britannia Royal Naval College I know how important it is for the cadets to see the Fleet they will shortly be a part of and this was a marvellous opportunity to showoff HMS Queen Elizabeth. I also have extremely fond memories of Dartmouth and all the lovely people who live there – the town is a great supporter of the College and the Royal Navy and it was also a great thrill for me to see the town from seaward from the Bridge of the carrier.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to sail for her maiden voyage across the Atlantic in the early autumn when she will conduct flying trials with the F-35B Lightning stealth fighter/bombers for the first time.