The Queen yesterday visited the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster, almost 24 years to the day after Her Majesty launched her.
The ship's crew welcomed the Queen - who is the symbolic Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces - onboard at Portsmouth Naval Base.
The national anthem played as she inspected a guard of honour, before she met members of the crew and their families onboard at a private lunch.
HMS Lancaster is known as the Queen's Frigate because the Queen is the ship’s sponsor in her capacity as the Duke of Lancaster.
Between May and December last year, the ship travelled more than 30,000 miles in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, making a total of 20 port visits.
During its deployment, it was involved in six drugs busts - detaining 23 drug-runners and seizing 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and nearly 1.5 tonnes of cannabis, which would be worth £160 million on the streets of the UK.
All hands on deck for The Queen! HMS Lancaster welcomes a very special visitor 24 years after she launched it
HMS Lancaster is also known as the Queen's Frigate and it was the Monarch who launched the vessel in 1990
Her Majesty received a royal salute from crew members on the ship at Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire
The 88-year-old was greeted by naval base commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and also spoke to crew members
By Jim Norton
21 May 2014
Daily Mail
The Queen has visited HMS Lancaster - known as the Queen’s Frigate - 24 years after she launched it.
The crew welcomed Her Majesty on board the Royal Navy Frigate yesterday as it stopped off at Portsmouth Naval Base.
Dressed elegantly in a sky blue Karl Ludwig dress and a white Angela Kelly hat, the 88-year-old was greeted by the naval base commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and received a royal salute.
Figurehead: The Queen - the symbolic Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces - stands at the bow of HMS Lancaster as crew members stand behind her with the ship in dock at Portsmouth in Hampshire. The vessel has travelled more than 30,000 miles in the North Atlantic and Caribbean between May and December 2013, making a total of 20 port visits
The national anthem played as she inspected a guard of honour, before she met members of the crew and their families onboard at a private lunch.
The Queen, who is the ship’s sponsor in her capacity as the Duke of Lancaster, officially launched the Type 23 frigate on May 24, 1990.
HMS Lancaster has travelled more than 30,000 miles in the North Atlantic and Caribbean between May and December 2013, making a total of 20 port visits.
Hats off: Queen Elizabeth II receives 'three cheers for Her Majesty' from the ship's company. HMS Lancaster has recently returned from a seven month deployment in the North Atlantic and Caribbean
Queen Elizabeth II shares a joke with Commander Peter Laughton, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster as she visits Portsmouth Naval Base for a tour of the the ship. In the background crew members stand to attention
During its deployment, it was involved in six drugs busts - detaining 23 drug-runners and seizing 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and nearly 1.5 tonnes of cannabis, which would be worth £160 million on the streets of the UK.
The Queen has previously visited the impressive ship in 2004 and 2006.
Commander Peter Laughton, the ship’s commanding officer, said: ‘We are honoured with a visit from our Lady Sponsor, Her Majesty the Queen, who launched the ship in 1990.
Dressed elegantly in a sky blue Karl Ludwig dress and a white Angela Kelly hat, the 88-year-old was greeted by the naval base commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and received a royal salute
‘It provides us with an excellent opportunity to update Her Majesty on HMS Lancaster’s recent activities including our successful counter-narcotics deployment in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.
‘Throughout this, Lancaster remained poised to respond to any natural disaster and ready to provide life saving support.
‘I am extremely proud of my ship’s company who worked tirelessly over a seven month period on the front line of naval operations and ultimately protecting our nation’s interests.’
Queen Elizabeth II also met members of the Boarding Team who were involved in successful counter-narcotics operations with HMS Lancaster.
Lancaster’s weapon engineer officer Lieutenant Commander Adrian Gubby said: ‘Lancaster has the privilege of being The Queen’s frigate. Seven months was a long time to be away from friends and family, however the success of the deployment made the time away worth it.’
Able seaman Andrew Warry, 19, from Portsmouth, said: ‘I feel really privileged, it’s nice to see it’s getting noticed, that it’s not just a job, it’s a career and you feel a part of something.’
Red carpet treatment: The Queen, who is the ship's sponsor in her capacity as the Duke of Lancaster, officially launched the Type 23 frigate on May 24, 1990. She is pictured here disembarking after a talking with crew members about life on board
The Queen smiles as she arrives to visit HMS Lancaster in Portsmouth, top. She is pictured, bottom, with the Duke of Edinburgh in May 1992 for the commissioning of the ship
Able Seaman David Yates, 26, of Falkirk, said the Queen asked him about his role as a warfare specialist on board HMS Lancaster.
He said: ‘I told her we were responsible for maritime security and radar collision.
‘It’s good to see the sponsor of the ship, it keeps morale high, it’s good publicity for the Royal Navy.’
Read more: Queen of the world! HMS Lancaster welcomes a very special visitor 24 years after she launched it | Mail Online
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The ship's crew welcomed the Queen - who is the symbolic Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces - onboard at Portsmouth Naval Base.
The national anthem played as she inspected a guard of honour, before she met members of the crew and their families onboard at a private lunch.
HMS Lancaster is known as the Queen's Frigate because the Queen is the ship’s sponsor in her capacity as the Duke of Lancaster.
Between May and December last year, the ship travelled more than 30,000 miles in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, making a total of 20 port visits.
During its deployment, it was involved in six drugs busts - detaining 23 drug-runners and seizing 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and nearly 1.5 tonnes of cannabis, which would be worth £160 million on the streets of the UK.
All hands on deck for The Queen! HMS Lancaster welcomes a very special visitor 24 years after she launched it
HMS Lancaster is also known as the Queen's Frigate and it was the Monarch who launched the vessel in 1990
Her Majesty received a royal salute from crew members on the ship at Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire
The 88-year-old was greeted by naval base commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and also spoke to crew members
By Jim Norton
21 May 2014
Daily Mail
The Queen has visited HMS Lancaster - known as the Queen’s Frigate - 24 years after she launched it.
The crew welcomed Her Majesty on board the Royal Navy Frigate yesterday as it stopped off at Portsmouth Naval Base.
Dressed elegantly in a sky blue Karl Ludwig dress and a white Angela Kelly hat, the 88-year-old was greeted by the naval base commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and received a royal salute.
Figurehead: The Queen - the symbolic Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces - stands at the bow of HMS Lancaster as crew members stand behind her with the ship in dock at Portsmouth in Hampshire. The vessel has travelled more than 30,000 miles in the North Atlantic and Caribbean between May and December 2013, making a total of 20 port visits
The national anthem played as she inspected a guard of honour, before she met members of the crew and their families onboard at a private lunch.
The Queen, who is the ship’s sponsor in her capacity as the Duke of Lancaster, officially launched the Type 23 frigate on May 24, 1990.
HMS Lancaster has travelled more than 30,000 miles in the North Atlantic and Caribbean between May and December 2013, making a total of 20 port visits.
Hats off: Queen Elizabeth II receives 'three cheers for Her Majesty' from the ship's company. HMS Lancaster has recently returned from a seven month deployment in the North Atlantic and Caribbean
Queen Elizabeth II shares a joke with Commander Peter Laughton, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster as she visits Portsmouth Naval Base for a tour of the the ship. In the background crew members stand to attention
During its deployment, it was involved in six drugs busts - detaining 23 drug-runners and seizing 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and nearly 1.5 tonnes of cannabis, which would be worth £160 million on the streets of the UK.
The Queen has previously visited the impressive ship in 2004 and 2006.
Commander Peter Laughton, the ship’s commanding officer, said: ‘We are honoured with a visit from our Lady Sponsor, Her Majesty the Queen, who launched the ship in 1990.
Dressed elegantly in a sky blue Karl Ludwig dress and a white Angela Kelly hat, the 88-year-old was greeted by the naval base commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and received a royal salute
‘It provides us with an excellent opportunity to update Her Majesty on HMS Lancaster’s recent activities including our successful counter-narcotics deployment in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.
‘Throughout this, Lancaster remained poised to respond to any natural disaster and ready to provide life saving support.
‘I am extremely proud of my ship’s company who worked tirelessly over a seven month period on the front line of naval operations and ultimately protecting our nation’s interests.’
Queen Elizabeth II also met members of the Boarding Team who were involved in successful counter-narcotics operations with HMS Lancaster.
Lancaster’s weapon engineer officer Lieutenant Commander Adrian Gubby said: ‘Lancaster has the privilege of being The Queen’s frigate. Seven months was a long time to be away from friends and family, however the success of the deployment made the time away worth it.’
Able seaman Andrew Warry, 19, from Portsmouth, said: ‘I feel really privileged, it’s nice to see it’s getting noticed, that it’s not just a job, it’s a career and you feel a part of something.’
Red carpet treatment: The Queen, who is the ship's sponsor in her capacity as the Duke of Lancaster, officially launched the Type 23 frigate on May 24, 1990. She is pictured here disembarking after a talking with crew members about life on board
The Queen smiles as she arrives to visit HMS Lancaster in Portsmouth, top. She is pictured, bottom, with the Duke of Edinburgh in May 1992 for the commissioning of the ship
Able Seaman David Yates, 26, of Falkirk, said the Queen asked him about his role as a warfare specialist on board HMS Lancaster.
He said: ‘I told her we were responsible for maritime security and radar collision.
‘It’s good to see the sponsor of the ship, it keeps morale high, it’s good publicity for the Royal Navy.’
Read more: Queen of the world! HMS Lancaster welcomes a very special visitor 24 years after she launched it | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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