Katherine Jenkins revealed as official sponsor of HMS Cardiff - the Royal Navy's next-generation submarine hunter

Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins has become an ambassador for the Royal Navy's next-generation submarine hunter HMS Cardiff and all who serve aboard. 

The singer was treated to a tour of the waters around HMS Cardiff courtesy of Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Express, the only British warship permanently based in Wales. 

Mrs Jenkins said she is "honoured and humbled" to be announced as the sponsor of HMS Cardiff, adding: "It has been a huge privilege to support His Majesty's Armed Forces for many years now and I am very much looking forward to continuing that support through this impressive new ship and her sailors."

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After being formally introduced as HMS Cardiff's sponsor, the opera star – the most successful UK classical musical artist of the century – was shown around HMS Cambria, the Royal Navy's headquarters at Cardiff Docks, Wales. 

A Ship's Sponsor is an honorary title and role that historically served to bestow good luck and divine protection upon a ship. 

Regarded as a permanent member of the ship's company, sponsors attend key moments in a vessel's life such as launch, commissioning ceremonies, homecomings from operational missions and are kept regularly informed of the sailors' activities and deeds.

They also send messages of support in return in hard and challenging times and generally act as ambassadors for and champions of the crew and their ship.

It is a role often, but not exclusively, performed by royalty – for example, the Princess of Wales is the sponsor of HMS Cardiff's sister ship HMS Glasgow – or prominent citizens, such as the wives and partners of senior military figures and political leaders. 

HMS Cardiff is the second of eight new submarine-hunting frigates – the Type 26 or City class – being built on the River Clyde to protect UK waters, the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent and most important surface ships, such as aircraft carrier strike groups, from the latest underwater threats. 

The new ship currently sits on the hardstanding at BAE Systems' facility in Govan as construction and fitting out continues, with the first of the frigate's 160-or-so crew yet to join. 

Due to enter service later this decade and be operational for at least a quarter of a century, in addition to her principal submarine hunting role, HMS Cardiff will be able to launch commando raids, board and search operations, launch and recover drones, provide relief to areas hit by natural disasters, conduct evacuations and many other duties expected of Royal Navy warships patrolling the globe. 

HMS Cardiff is already affiliated with her namesake city following a visit by civic leaders to Govan to see progress on the ship earlier this month. 

Brigadier Jock Fraser, Royal Marines, Naval Regional Commander for Wales, Western England and the Channel Islands, who has helped forge ties between the new ship and her namesake city, said: "It was a real honour to formally welcome Katherine to the naval family on behalf of the First Sea Lord today. 

"Our ships' sponsors fulfil a historic and important role in the service of a Royal Navy ship. 

"We are thrilled that Katherine will be the ship's sponsor for HMS Cardiff which is affiliated to the capital city of Wales. 

"I am certain that she will be an outstanding advocate for the ship wherever HMS Cardiff serves around the globe. 

"Having recently visited HMS Cardiff in-build, I know that Katherine can look forward to supporting a ship's company working in a world-leading platform."