Royal Navy warship HMS Queen Elizabeth docks in Belfast

One of the Royal Navy's biggest and most powerful warships has arrived in Belfast Lough.

The city's harbour is welcoming the 65-thousand tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth into port today, which you may have spotted making its approach early this morning at sunrise.

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier is one of the biggest warships ever built for the UK, and can carry up to 40 aircraft, including a mix of Lightning fighter jets and helicopters.

The flight deck comes in at an enormous four acres and the ship’s two propellers weigh 33 tonnes each.

The vessel is here as part of a scheduled visit and marks the first visit of a Royal Navy aircraft carrier to the city in decades.

The carrier is currently undertaking a three-month programme of training and operations around the UK and Northern Europe. She is also serving as NATO’s command ship for the Allied Reaction Force, an important role involving the coordination of allied naval forces.

Six facts about HMS Queen Elizabeth:

⚓️ Led by Captain Claire Thompson OBE RN, the ship operates with a crew of approximately 700, increasing to the full complement of 1,600 when aircraft are embarked

⚓️ The warship is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft

⚓️ On board, you'll find five gyms, a chapel and a medical centre

⚓️ The flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth comes in at an enormous four acres, and is used to launch the fearsome new F-35 Lightning II fast jet

⚓️ Four fighter jets can be moved from the hangar to the flight deck in just one minute.

⚓️ The ship’s two propellers weigh 33 tonnes each. The powerplant behind them generates enough power to run 1,000 family cars

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