The King Charles has visited the Royal Navy’s flagship as she prepares for a major deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

It’s the first time in nearly 40 years that a reigning monarch has joined a Royal Navy warship at sea, underlining the importance and scale of the deployment the Portsmouth-based carrier will lead in just a few weeks’ time.

King Charles flew to the flagship in the Channel during the closing stages of her intensive training before she sets sail across the world to Japan on a mission that will deepen the UK’s defence partnerships and promote security and stability.

Charles visited the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales last week as the Royal Navy finalises preparations for a major global deployment to the Indo-Pacific this spring.

King Charles visited in his role as the Honorary Commodore-in-Chief Aircraft Carrier and Head of the Armed Forces, meeting Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel on board the aircraft carrier.

“As you prepare to set sail as the flagship of the UK Carrier Strike Group, building on the success of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s inaugural deployment in 2021, I just wanted to express, on behalf of the nation, my heartfelt gratitude for the extraordinarily valuable contributions and personal sacrifices that you and your families continue to make in the name of duty,” said the King to the personnel gathered in the hangar.

“I can sense the anticipation and excitement amongst many of you today for what lies ahead over the next eight months and all I can say is I will be watching your progress with great interest.”

Adrian Barker, Chief Physical Training Instructor was among the sailors to meet the King.

He said: “It was nice to speak to him about deck hockey and tug of war, he obviously has fond memories of working with PTIs in the past. It was not what I expected, and really warming and easy to talk to.”

Able Seaman Marc Rutherford, who met the King on the bridge, said: “It was the proudest day of my life since joining the Royal Navy, I’m still in shock, he was funny and I was surprised he would support a team like Burnley – Newcastle would be much better.”

The King toured the 65,000-tonne warship and watched F-35B Lightning jets operating from the vast flight deck, which will be home to fighters, helicopters and drones during the global deployment.

HMS Prince of Wales’ Commanding Officer, Captain Will Blackett, said: “It was a great honour to host His Majesty onboard today.

“I was able to show him first hand that HMS Prince of Wales is at high readiness, standing by to deliver for the UK when ordered.

“His visit was a great source of morale for my excellent ship’s company and we look forward to doing him proud in all our endeavours this year.”

The King is no stranger to aircraft carrier operations having flown in a Buccaneer jet to HMS Ark Royal in 1977 from Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton.

Although an experience pilot, the then Prince flew in the rear seat while Lieutenant Commander Tony Morton, the Commanding Officer of 809 Naval Air Squadron, piloted.

That same squadron has recently been recommissioned after a 41-year absence to fly F-35B stealth jets and will operate from HMS Prince of Wales alongside 617 Squadron ‘Dambusters’ during the global deployment.

The King arrived from Sandringham by Royal Navy Merlin helicopter this time around and was joined aboard by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the Royal Navy, and chief of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton.

The King followed in his late mother’s footsteps with this visit – Queen Elizabeth II similarly visited aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside in Portsmouth in 2021 before the then-flagship deployed on her own global mission to the Indo-Pacific.

She was the last reigning monarch to visit a Royal Navy warship at sea when with her husband HRH Prince Philip she embarked in minehunter HMS Brocklesby making the short trip from Rosyth to Leith, escorted by HMS Maxton, in 1988.