THE Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire has paid a visit to the Royal Navy's brand new aircraft carrier.

Dame Mary Fagan visited the HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is under construction at the Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland.

She was given a brief on the ship's capabilities and was taken on a tour by Cdr Andrew Blackburn, the ship's air engineer officer.

The 65,000 tonne Queen Elizabeth Class vessel will be one of the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy once construction work is completed.

She will sail to her new home at Portsmouth Naval Base in early 2017.

Dame Mary said: "I was staggered by the size of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth – she is the most exciting ship I have ever visited.

“I was also struck by the sense of pride and commitment shown by the ship’s company, and the workforce who are building her.

"I am very much looking forward to visiting her again.” HMS Queen Elizabeth will be formally named by Her Majesty the Queen in July."