HMS Queen Elizabeth: carrier returns to Portsmouth for Christmas

British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has been working off the east coast of the United States, where both the abilities of the grand vessel and its F-35 aircraft have been tested.

We always love welcoming our Navy back home when we get the chance, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to head out today to capture the occasion from an aerial perspective.

Before heading out, we simply prepared for a commercial flight as we usually do, and then took to the skies!

This is a particularly special homecoming, as it marks the first time HMS Queen Elizabeth meets HMS Prince of Wales!

It was lovely to see Portsmouth giving their families and loved ones such a warm welcome home.

A tip for professional and hobbyist drone pilots whose native languages are written left-to-right: when filming and photographing ships, capture them in the same direction. Your brain will be wired to perceive this direction more naturally, so tracking the drone will feel more comfortable!

Another piece of advice: photographing the ship in its own shadow is generally a no-no. As this was a quick, largely unplanned flight during a lunch break, we didn’t have time to charter a RIB to head out onto the water and capture HMS Queen Elizabeth from her best angle!