HMS Prince of Wales left Liverpool Cruise Terminal on Friday after an eight-day visit with the captain saying he was ‘genuinely overwhelmed’ by the warm welcome from the city. Tony McDonough reports

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales departed the Mersey on Friday afternoon following an eight day visit to the city.

During her stay at Liverpool Cruise Terminal, the 650,000-tonnes £3bn warship welcomed more than 20,000 visitors on board. They included 2,000 students with an interest in pursuing careers in engineering.

Thousands more people viewed the ship from Princes Parade in Liverpool Waters with many visiting the ‘military village’ set up close by which gave an insight into life in the services, explaining their role and how they support the nation in times of peace and conflict.

At 280 metres wide, HMS Prince of Wales is one of the most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK, along with her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth. Sections of both vessels were built at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead.

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Captain Darren Houston, the Commanding Officer of HMS Prince of Wales, said: “This visit to Liverpool has reinforced HMS Prince of Wales’ proud links to the city, where parts of the ship were built. The ship’s company and I have been genuinely overwhelmed by the incredibly warm Merseyside welcome that we experienced.

“With 95% of the nation’s trade relying on the sea, a strong, capable and flexible Royal Navy is vital to our continued economic prosperity. HMS Prince of Wales and her sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, lie at the heart of the Royal Navy’s transformation into a carrier task group navy, delivering a revolution in capability that will ensure the UK’s influence and access to the seas for the next 50 years.”

After she leaves Liverpool, HMS Prince of Wales will continue her sea trials in the Irish Sea before returning to her home port of Portsmouth. The carriers are the first in the word to be specifically designed to operate the F35 Lightning jet.

The short take-off and vertical landing jets feature advanced stealth technology, weaponry and sensors, making them the most formidable aircraft in the word today.

Liverpool’s Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for culture, tourism and events, Cllr Wendy Simon, added: “HMS Prince of Wales has been a striking addition to our waterfront and has proved hugely popular during its time in the city.

“Crowds turned out in their tens of thousands over the weekend – and the feedback from those lucky enough to get tickets to go on board has been hugely positive, with people enjoying this unique opportunity. It’s been wonderful to have Liverpool’s affiliated Royal Navy vessel spend time in the city and we wish the captain and crew fair winds and following seas.”