The Princess Royal explored assault ship HMS Albion on exercises in Scotland 25092021 Credit Royal Navy.jpg — The Princess Royal explored assault ship HMS Albion (Picture: Royal Navy).

The Princess Royal toured assault ship HMS Albion on exercises in Scotland 25092021 Credit Royal Navy.jpg — The Princess Royal talked to crew on board HMS Albion (Picture: Royal Navy).

The Princess Royal talking to Royal Marines on assault ship HMS Albion on exercises in Scotland 25092021 Credit Royal Navy.jpg — The Princess Royal talking to Royal Marines on assault ship HMS Albion (Picture: Royal Navy).

The Princess Royal with assault ship HMS Albion on exercises in Scotland 25092021 Credit Royal Navy.jpg — The Princess Royal spoke with Royal Marines on board HMS Albion (Picture: Royal Navy).

Royals

Weekend Stay On Warship HMS Albion For Royal Sponsor Princess Anne

HMS Albion sponsor Princess Anne spent the weekend on board the warship to watch her taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior - the largest military exercise in Europe.

The Princess Royal, who launched the assault ship in 2001, was catching up with Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines currently taking part in the exercise off the Scottish coast.

Exercise Joint Warrior brings together the Royal Navy, the British Army and Royal Air Force, as well as forces from a number of other nations.

Flown in by an RAF Chinook helicopter from 27 Squadron, the Royal visitor witnessed the ship conducting amphibious operations as part of the two-week-long international exercise, before presenting a number of Long Service and Good Conduct awards.

During the visit, the Princess met many members of the ship's company in their workspaces, from the galley to the forward engine room, and even took a spin in one of the ship's landing craft.

In a tweet, HMS Albion spoke of their "privilege of hosting" Princess Anne.

The ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Simon Kelly, said: "It's always such a fantastic time for any ship's company to have their Lady Sponsor on board, and even more special to be able to do it at sea.

We had the privilege of hosting our Lady Sponsor, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, as she visited @hms_albion as we participated in #JointWarrior off the coast of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @RoyalFamily @RoyalNavy @RoyalMarines #UKResponseGroup pic.twitter.com/HxfSIiyKPV
— HMS Albion (@hms_albion) September 27, 2021

"It was a great honour for us to update Her Royal Highness on her ship and the challenges and successes of its crew.

"HMS Albion was launched by Princess Anne 20 years ago and I am delighted to demonstrate to her how it continues to deliver as the UK's High Readiness Amphibious Assault Ship," he added.

Exercise Joint Warrior 212 involves dozens of pieces of air and sea hardware, and personnel from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Among the ships taking part in the exercise is Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which the Royal Navy refused to deny was involved in an encounter with a Russian vessel off the Scottish coast during the exercise.