Her Royal Highness holds several notable roles within the naval community, such as being the Royal Sponsor of the Devonport-based assault ship HMS Albion, the Commodore-in-Chief of Portsmouth Naval Base, and the Chief Commandant of Women in the Royal Navy, among other enduring connections with the Senior Service.
In her capacity as the Ship’s Sponsor, The Princess Royal will partake in significant moments in HMS Venturer’s journey, like the naming and commissioning ceremonies, and will stay updated on the ship’s activities and the crew of over 100 men and women on board.
During her recent visit, The Princess Royal had the opportunity to meet the crew of the ship, even though the frigate is still in the construction phase, as she toured both the assembly facility and the vessel itself.
The frigate, currently over two years into construction, has seen substantial progress with the hull and much of the superstructure already in place within a modern assembly facility where Babcock, a defense firm, is overseeing the construction of all five ships in the Type 31 Inspiration class.
Once completed, Venturer and her sister ships will undertake a variety of duties globally, ranging from independent maritime security patrols to supporting the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier strike groups or collaborating with the UK’s allies and partners.
Wrapping up the visit, Her Royal Highness presented Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to two members of HMS Venturer’s crew, including Leading Hand Adam Duncan, the newest and most junior member onboard the ship.