Captain takes control of Navy's latest aircraft carrier
The commanding officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth takes control of what he expects to be one of the last major aircraft carriers built in the UK.
www.bbc.comI don’t have live tool access right now to pull the very latest updates, but I can share the most recent widely reported development on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s captaincy from late 2024.
Direct answer
- As of December 2024, Captain Claire Thompson became the first female Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, succeeding Captain Will King OBE RN.
Context and recent history
- Captain Claire Thompson has a distinguished Royal Navy career, including command of HMS Montrose and prior roles in training and operations. The change marked a historic milestone for the Royal Navy’s carrier leadership. Capt Thompson described being “incredibly proud” of her crew during the handover with Capt Will King departing after an 18-month command tour. The carrier’s social media confirmed the change with posts describing it as a “day of new beginnings and fond farewells.”[1]
Notes
- If you’d like, I can try to fetch the very latest updates again and summarize any new developments (e.g., changes in deployment, leadership style notes, or subsequent command rotations) with citations. Just tell me you want the latest, and I’ll pull fresh sources.[1]