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Queen names new Royal Navy aircraft carrier in Rosyth Queen to name new Royal Navy aircraft carrier in Rosyth
(about 2 hours later)
The Queen is due to give her name to the largest warship built in the UK at a ceremony in Fife's Rosyth dockyard. Crowds are gathering as the Queen prepares to give her name to the largest warship built in the UK at a ceremony in Fife's Rosyth dockyard.
She will smash a bottle of whisky on the hull of the 65,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth - the first of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers being built.She will smash a bottle of whisky on the hull of the 65,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth - the first of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers being built.
PM David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond are both due to attend. She is with the Duke of Edinburgh at the naming ceremony, a naval tradition dating back thousands of years.
Six shipyards in the UK - Appledore, Birkenhead, Govan, Portsmouth, Rosyth and Tyne - have been involved in building parts of the carrier. PM David Cameron said it was a "very proud day" for Scotland and the UK.
First Minister Alex Salmond, former prime minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor George Osborne are also attending.
Six shipyards in the UK including Tyne, Rosyth and Appledore have been involved in building parts of the carrier.
More than 10,000 people in more than 100 companies have worked on HMS Queen Elizabeth, which has been beset by construction and design delays.More than 10,000 people in more than 100 companies have worked on HMS Queen Elizabeth, which has been beset by construction and design delays.
The estimated cost of the aircraft carrier and its sister ship is £6.2bn, well over the initial projected cost of £3.65bn. The estimated cost of the vessel and its sister ship is £6.2bn, well over the initial projected cost of £3.65bn.
The warship - the largest ever built in and for the UK - is as long as 25 buses and can carry 40 jets and helicopters at a time. It will have a permanent crew of almost 700 when it enters service in 2020. The warship - the largest ever built in and for the UK - is as long as 25 buses and can carry 40 jets and helicopters at a time. It will have a permanent crew of almost 1,600 when it enters service in 2020.
The Queen will perform the naming ceremony at Rosyth with a bottle of whisky rather than champagne. The Queen will perform the naming ceremony with a bottle of whisky rather than champagne.
The monarch will smash a bottle of Islay malt whisky, from Bowmore Distillery, against the ship. The monarch will smash a bottle of Islay malt, from Bowmore Distillery, against the ship.
Bowmore was the first distillery the Queen ever visited in an official capacity.Bowmore was the first distillery the Queen ever visited in an official capacity.
Analysis
Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent
It so happens that the Royal Navy has chosen to name and float its new aircraft carrier on American Independence Day.
Yet this ceremony signals the UK's intention to continue to independently project military power in the world for decades to come.
Albeit that the largest warship ever built in Britain will carry US-made fighter jets.
But one question that arises is: in whose name will HMS Queen Elizabeth and its air crews operate when they come into service in 2020?
Will it be the flagship of the UK as it currently exists or only for England, Wales and Northern Ireland if Scotland chooses its own independence in September's referendum?
The UK government argues that the union offers Scotland greater security as well as greater job prospects for thousands of Scottish defence workers.
The Scottish government believes NATO would guarantee an independent Scotland's defence and that shipyards such as Rosyth and Govan would continue to prosper by winning orders from both the UK and Scottish defence ministries.
The huge choice that Scotland faces looms large at the naming of a very big ship.
Major constructionMajor construction
The carrier has still to be fitted out and floated, to make way for the assembly of its sister ship HMS Prince of Wales.The carrier has still to be fitted out and floated, to make way for the assembly of its sister ship HMS Prince of Wales.
Assembly of HMS Prince of Wales is set to begin at Rosyth later this year.Assembly of HMS Prince of Wales is set to begin at Rosyth later this year.
The naming of the first of the two ships comes five years after the first metal was cut on the vessel and 33 months after the first section entered the dry dock at Rosyth for assembly.The naming of the first of the two ships comes five years after the first metal was cut on the vessel and 33 months after the first section entered the dry dock at Rosyth for assembly.
Firefighters had to be called to a fire on board the ship last month.Firefighters had to be called to a fire on board the ship last month.
It is believed that a small fire had started in one of the vessel's hull compartments.It is believed that a small fire had started in one of the vessel's hull compartments.
Fire crews reported only minor damage.Fire crews reported only minor damage.
'Floating military city''Floating military city'
Ian Booth, from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance which is overseeing the ships' construction, said the naming of HMS Queen Elizabeth would be an "immensely proud moment" for all involved.Ian Booth, from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance which is overseeing the ships' construction, said the naming of HMS Queen Elizabeth would be an "immensely proud moment" for all involved.
He said: "We now have very flexible warships which have been designed to meet the UK's military maritime needs for the next 50 years.He said: "We now have very flexible warships which have been designed to meet the UK's military maritime needs for the next 50 years.
"They are really flexible ships with massive capability built into them."They are really flexible ships with massive capability built into them.
"They are effectively a floating military city that can deploy aircraft, that can act as a disaster relief centre."They are effectively a floating military city that can deploy aircraft, that can act as a disaster relief centre.
"They have their own hospital with operating theatres. They can support land forces, all sorts of military interventions.""They have their own hospital with operating theatres. They can support land forces, all sorts of military interventions."
When the naming ceremony was announced earlier this year, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said it would a be a "proud and historic day" for the Royal Navy and the nation.When the naming ceremony was announced earlier this year, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said it would a be a "proud and historic day" for the Royal Navy and the nation.
He said at the time: "This occasion will mark a major milestone in regenerating the UK's aircraft-carrier fleet and its power projection capability."He said at the time: "This occasion will mark a major milestone in regenerating the UK's aircraft-carrier fleet and its power projection capability."
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas said in February: "The Royal Navy is delighted that Her Majesty will name this great ship - the first of a class that will return fast-jet carrier operations to our nation's war fighting credibility."First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas said in February: "The Royal Navy is delighted that Her Majesty will name this great ship - the first of a class that will return fast-jet carrier operations to our nation's war fighting credibility."