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Warship given freedom of city on 'emotional' day

BBC Members of a Royal Navy band in full uniform with white helmets and carrying drums march past a church building with the public looking onBBC
Crew members of HMS Prince of Wales march through Liverpool city centre

Hundreds of Royal Navy sailors marched through Liverpool after their vessel HMS Prince of Wales was awarded freedom of the city.

The honour was bestowed on the enormous warship, the largest and newest aircraft carrier in the navy's fleet, at a ceremony at Liverpool Parish Church.

Members of the 800-strong crew went on parade watched on by some of their families and friends.

Commanding officer Captain Will Blackett said the event was "the next chapter in a story of duty both by the ship and the city".

Sailors n blue uniforms sit in rows inside the church holding copies of an order of service
Crew from HMS Prince of Wales attend a service granting the vessel freedom of the city

One local woman, Natalie, told the BBC of her emotion to see her son who is serving on the ship march past.

"He's just gone past me so I'm made up, it's dead emotional isn't it?", she said.

"I haven't seen him for a while so this is nice seeing him today and it's such a historic day as well.

"It's so overwhelming, the amount of pressure he puts himself under to get to where he is today I'm just so proud and they should all be proud of themselves - they've done the city proud."

Crewmen from HMS Prince of Wales stand to attention on the road outside the church, wearing full uniform with white caps and holding their rifles
Captain Will Blackett, commanding officer of the ship, said attending the ceremony was a "privilege"

The ceremony heard hymns, readings and prayers from the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, and Captain Blackett.

Captain Blackett said: "It's the formal recognition of a really important link between the ship and the city, but there's been a link between the Royal Navy and the city for hundreds of years.

"So it's just the next chapter in a story of duty, both by the city and by the ship and it's a real privilege to be part of it."

Meanwhile, Liverpool City Council has confirmed that public viewing of the Portsmouth-based warship on Saturday had been cancelled due to an amber weather warning for strong winds.

Earlier this week a drone was seized after it breached a temporary flight restriction zone set up for the vessel's visit to Liverpool, Merseyside Police said.

The force and Ministry of Defence officers spotted the drone in restricted air space on Wednesday.

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