The biggest and most powerful warship ever built by Britain has arrived at her home port today for the first time.
Thousands of people, including family members of those on board, lined the seafront to welcome her home. Members of the 700-strong crew, plus 200 contractors, mustered on the deck to wave to their loved ones as the aircraft carrier arrived.
People cheered, took photos and waved Union flags as the £3billion ship, which dwarfed its surroundings, docked around 7.30am. As the crowds welcomed her in, Commander Darren Houston could be heard saying over the tannoy to those on the shore: 'Good morning, Portsmouth'.
Louise Bond, 30, from Fareham, Hampshire, whose husband, Petty Officer Greg Bond, 33, is serving on board, said: 'It's my first homecoming. It's brilliant. I was up at 2.30am, first in line. It's amazing, I wouldn't miss it for the world. It's a historic moment, once-in-a-lifetime to see.'
Tanya Baker, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, had taken two-year-old daughter Eloise to meet her partner, Petty Officer Craig May. She said: 'We are really proud that my partner is coming in on the Queen Elizabeth. It's been a long time since I've seen him and we are both proud to be part of the aircraft carrier.'
HMS Queen Elizabeth will send a message to the UK's allies and enemies that the country means business, according to her captain. The behemoth is set to be the nation's future flagship for the next 50 years.
The Prime Minister hailed the ship as a symbol of the UK as a 'great global maritime nation'.
'It sends a clear signal that as Britain forges a new, positive, confident role on the world stage in the years ahead we are determined to remain a fully engaged global power, working closely with our friends and allies around the world.'
The waterfront on both sides of the harbour was packed with people, waving flags and banners, keen to grab a view of the historic moment.
Anthea Edwards, 51, and her husband Rodney, 67, had flown 11 hours and almost 6,000 miles from Durban, South Africa to see their 21-year-old son's ship arrive.
Mrs Edwards said: 'It's such a momentous occasion for it to come in. To see him come home is amazing. It's very exciting.'
Mr Edwards said he was 'proud' to see his son, an engineer, follow in his footsteps, after he spent time serving in the merchant navy.
He added: 'The lad is taking his leave, so we can spend some time with him. It is absolutely worth the distance to see him and the ship.'
Christine Feltham, 59, had come from Southampton, Hants, to watch her 26-year-old son - a weapons engineer - arrive.
She said: 'The ship was even bigger than I expected. It's great to know he was part of it on its maiden voyage. I am very proud of him.'
She said: 'It's emotional and exciting to be here. It is the flagship of the navy. I am extremely proud that a member of my family is serving on this ship.'
John Mander, 77, from Bude, Cornwall said he was 'very proud indeed' of his son, who is one of the BAE Systems workers on board the ship.
Sarah Smith had travelled from Hull, East Yorks, to see her 20-year-old daughter - a sea spec - and the flagship.
She said: 'It's very exciting. I am very proud of her. The weather is very good - it's warm. I saw the ship when it left Rosyth.
'I am very excited to see it finally come home. It's a good moment and I would not miss it for the world.'
Mary Hudson, from Havant, Hants, was there with her husband John and son Luke. She said: 'Although I had seen online how big it was, it was a lot bigger than I expected.
'It really wowed me. It was so impressive. It is great to be a part of this day and to see her coming into Portsmouth for the first time. It's a moment that I'll remember for ever.'
Luke, aged 11, said: 'It is awesome. The ship was really big and seeing the helicopters too was cool.'
Couple Lucy and Jamie Richards, from Cosham, Hants, said it was worth getting up early for.
'It was great seeing the crowds to welcome her. Even though I had to get up at 5am, I wouldn't have missed this. It's been fantastic.'
Suzanne Welch and Terry Card, from Portsmouth, said the ship gave them great pride.
Suzanne, 55, said: 'This is something that won't happen again so it's exciting to be a part of it.
'We love the city and it's amazing to welcome HMS Queen Elizabeth.'
Another onlooker, Sarah Tremlett, said: 'it was utterly amazing to see her up so close.
'It makes me so proud as a Pompey girl. You just really had to be there to see that stunning sight right next to the shore.'
Mrs Tremlett, who grew up in Cowplain, Hants, but now lives in Nottingham, said: 'This is what this city is all about, coming out to support our navy on days like this. It makes the 5am start worth it.'
Admiral Sir Philip Jones, the First Sea Lord, spoke at the dockside and described the vessel's arrival as the culmination of an 'extraordinary journey' for the ship and the Navy.
He said: 'Today, we are gathered to see a seminal moment in the history of the Navy. It is part of an unfolding renaissance in our maritime industries.
'Within both the Royal Navy and British industry, a generation have put their best years into making this a reality. Today is the culmination of the achievement of that programme.
'As we prepare to leave the European Union, this will take our message of partnership and prosperity to the rest of the world.
'HMS Queen Elizabeth embodies the nation's future ambition, She will be the embodiment of Britain in steel and in spirit.
'She will demonstrate the kind of nation we are - not a diminished nation withdrawing from the world, but an outward-looking and ambitious nation with a Royal Navy to match.'
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: 'Today we welcome our mighty new warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, to her home for the very first time.
'She is Britain's statement to the world: a demonstration of British military power and our commitment to a bigger global role.
'The thousands of people across the UK who have played a part in building her and her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, should be immensely proud as our future flagship enters Portsmouth.
'She has made good progress in sea trials and will now embark on the next phase of preparations that will see the return of Britain's carrier strike ability.
'When she enters service she will help keep Britain safe at a time of increased threats, able to fill multiple roles from providing air power anywhere at any time to fight future campaigns, supporting allies or delivering humanitarian aid.'
A flotilla of craft followed the behemoth aircraft carrier as she sailed into the Solent before heading into Portsmouth, where, at its narrowest point, there was less than 66ft (20m) clearance on each side.
With boots polished and caps perfectly placed, all the ship's available company stood at the edge of the vessel as she arrived in the harbour and naval base.
Those on board and watching from the shore were also treated to two separate flypasts of Royal Navy helicopters - the first featuring a Sea King, two MK2 Merlins and two MK3 Merlins - which were then joined by two Hawk jets for the second.
Fireworks were let off as the giant carrier arrived, dwarfing the historic buildings at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.
An 820ft (250m) exclusion zone, enforced by armed police in small boats, meant the port was effectively closed to the small flotilla of boats which had turned out to greet the Queen Elizabeth.
Lieutenant Commander Ian Pratt, who took a moment to take a photograph of the carrier as it sailed past, said: 'Absolutely fantastic. What a wonderful day for the Royal Navy, for Portsmouth and the whole of the country, the flagship of our nation is home. Fantastic.'
Inside Big Lizzie revealed: Life above and below HMS Queen Elizabeth's four-acre deck for the 700 crew
By Joseph Curtis for MailOnline
Weighing 65,000-tons, HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to be the flagship craft for at least 50 years - and is Britain's largest ever warship.
She arrived in her home dock today after completing the latest round of sea trials - a day earlier than previously expected, after weather conditions had formerly prevented the exact date from being set.
Speaking on board as the vessel sailed in the English Channel yesterday, Captain Jerry Kyd said he is feeling a 'huge amount of pride' ahead of the vessel berthing in her home port.
Quizzed on whether he thinks aircraft carriers such as HMS Queen Elizabeth put the UK in the Naval premier league, he said: 'It sends the right signals to our allies and indeed potentially to our enemies that we mean business.
'The armed forces are fundamentally an insurance policy for the country and you can't just, at the flick of a switch, decide that you need these capabilities.
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