(November 22nd 2001)
HMS Ark Royal Re-Dedicated
Aircraft Carrier HMS Ark Royal has been rededicated at Portsmouth following a period of seven years away from active service.
This August Ark Royal returned to Portsmouth following a two-and-a-half year refit at Rosyth. Before that she had been laid up at Portsmouth in reserve ever since 1994.
The guest of honor at the ceremony was the ship's 101-year-old sponsor HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother launched both the present Ark Royal in 1981 and her predecessor in 1950.
She told the crew "I'm so happy that I'm once again onboard Ark Royal... you see, I launched her and her predecessor. So it's wonderful to feel that now she's going to be at sea and she's guarding our shores just as in the days of yore".
"She is a wonderful ship and I hope you will all be happy in her."
The Queen Mother concluded her brief speech by instructing Ark Royal's Commanding Officer, Captain David Snelson, to "Splice the Mainbrace".