THE Royal Navy's new £3billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has been snapped off the Bournemouth coast.

Weighing in at 65,000 tonnes, the warship - nicknamed Big Lizzie - entered its home port of Portsmouth earlier today.

Tens of thousands of people lined the walls of the city's harbour to welcome the colossal vessel, which has been carrying out sea trials off the Isle of Wight after sailing down from Rosyth dockyard, Fife, where she was built.

The 280m, carrier, with a flight deck wide enough to fit three football pitches, is the Royal Navy's biggest and most expensive vessel ever constructed.

There was also a flypast from the Fleet Air Arm, including Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and Hawk jets, as part of the celebrations.

Captain Jerry Kyd, commanding officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, said: "The UK's future flagship, as well her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales, will be powerful symbols of Britain's outward facing global character and ambition."

More than 10,000 people have been involved in the carrier programme, with construction of the ship taking place across six cities. It will eventually have a crew of around 1,600 and 36 fighter jets.

Trial flights from the carrier's deck are due to begin next year.