Singer Katherine Jenkins checks if HMS Cardiff progress is still on song for autumn float
The Royal Navy's next-generation submarine hunter HMS Cardiff had a welcome visit from its sponsor, classical singer Katherine Jenkins.
The Welsh mezzo-soprano was "honoured and humbled" to be unveiled as the official sponsor of the Type 26 City-class frigate last year.
This week she travelled to BAE Systems shipyard in Govan to see first-hand the progress on HMS Cardiff.
On her most recent tour, Mrs Jenkins was given an insight into the evolution of the eight frigates being built for the Royal Navy.
HMS Cardiff is an imposing presence on the banks of the Clyde in the heart of Glasgow, towering over the shipyard.
She is the second of the Royal Navy's new Type 26 frigates that will replace the Type 23 ships that are currently in service.
The frigate is almost structurally complete and is due to be floated out of the yard in the autumn ready to be fitted out.
The honorary title and role of a ship sponsor is historically served to bestow good luck and divine protection upon a vessel.
Mrs Jenkins was chosen to take up the honour of ship sponsor due to her work with the Armed Forces worldwide over the past two decades, including twice performing on aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Regarded as a permanent member of the ship's company, sponsors attend key moments in a vessel's life such as launch, commissioning ceremonies and homecomings from operational missions.
They are also kept regularly informed of the sailors' activities and deeds, and send messages of support in return in hard and challenging times.
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.
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