HMS Queen Elizabeth has made an unexpected return to Portsmouth amid speculation that the Royal Navy flagship is in need of urgent repairs.
The aircraft carrier arrived just before midnight on Sunday, leaving many surprised given the vessel wasn’t expected back until mid November.
Reports then circulated on social media that it was rushed home for urgent repairs.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was on deployment as the UK Carrier Strike Group flagship after being deployed in September.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “HMS Queen Elizabeth has returned to port for a logistics stop and a short period of maintenance.”
