HMS Queen Elizabeth marks first trip to Arctic Circle with Blue Nose ceremony

The Royal Navy flagship has entered the Arctic Circle for the first time in her career - and has marked the occasion with an unusual ceremony involving blue face paint and tubs of icy water.

Some 174 crew members of HMS Queen Elizabeth, which weighs 65,000 tonnes, undertook the Blue Nose ceremony, a famous Royal Navy tradition.

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The Blue Nose ceremony takes place whenever a Royal Navy ship crosses into the Arctic.

The crew paint their noses blue as the ship crosses into the Arctic Circle, and an 'Order of the Blue Nose' certificate is also awarded to those sailors who make their first crossing.

As well as painting their noses, crew members plunge into a tub of icy water on board the ship.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is spearheading the UK Carrier Strike Group which has just completed the first phase of its deployment with a series of simulated strike missions alongside international partners.