As HMS Prince of Wales departs for the high seas, this country must prepare for choppier waters
The Royal Navy's flagship the Prince of Wales has departed from Portsmouth for an eight-month deployment around the Indo-Pacific.
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As the ship set sail, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was in Washington for a three-day visit aimed at averting a full-blown trade war with the US. The timing of the two events could scarcely be more ironic.
One one level, the £3 billion vessel, is a showpiece of all that is best about modern Britain. Weighing in at more than 70,000 tons, 932ft long and covering the size of three football pitches, this magnificent ship serves as a floating airport for up to 48 cutting-edge fighter jets. While it was built in partnership with our French allies, it demonstrates how Britain still cuts an imposing figure on the world stage.