Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth in Hamburg for a high-profile port visit
HMS Queen Elizabeth is visiting Hamburg, the first Royal Navy carrier to visit the German city in 13 years.
She navigated the river Elbe to reach the port after a series of military drills with German Navy and Army helicopters in the North Sea.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will be in Hamburg for five days, berthed at the Steinwerder cruise terminal on the south bank of the Elbe, with her visit underscoring the importance of a new major defence agreement between the UK and Germany.
The Royal Navy flagship is to host a series of conferences and visits by ministers, diplomats and defence experts as the two Nato nations look to forge deeper defence bonds and boost wider European security.
Last month, the UK and Germany signed the Trinity House Agreement, which begins a new era of cooperation that aims to boost security, investment and jobs.
Under the agreement, the two countries will work on joint defence projects, including developing new maritime drone technology to counter warships and submarines.
Captain Will King, HMS Queen Elizabeth's Commanding Officer, said: "Everyone on board HMS Queen Elizabeth is very much looking forward to our visit to Hamburg.
"Although many of our more senior sailors have visited previously and received a warm welcome, this will be the first time a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier has berthed there.
"As you would expect during a visit to one of our closest Nato allies there is a busy programme of defence engagement, but everyone on the ship will get a chance to explore the city whose proud maritime heritage is very similar to our home in Portsmouth.
"We have a number of sporting fixtures planned and I have no doubt the stay will be a really memorable one."
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