HMS Pembroke has brush with maritime royalty

With Royal Navy mine hunter HMS Pembroke currently at sea on NATO exercise BALTOP, the crew of the Scottish ship fully expected to celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday in simple style.

But on Saturday, June 11, the Sandown Class ship had an unexpected encounter with maritime royalty when she met giant cruise ship The Queen Elizabeth at sea. 

The meeting took place just south of the Swedish Island of Öland as HMS Pembroke was transiting to her next area of operation with Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). 

The bridge team spotted the luxury cruise ship on the horizon and briefly detached from her NATO partners to spend some time with Her Majesty’s namesake.

“In the past few days we’ve been lucky enough to see some really fantastic ships and aircraft, both from the Royal Navy and from our NATO allies,” said Pembroke’s Able Seaman (Diver) Callum O’Conner.

“Getting to see The Queen Elizabeth just around the time of Her Majesty’s birthday was the icing on the cake!”

Having exchanged pleasantries with one another, both ships got back to work. 

However, it won’t be the last time the pair will meet as HMS Pembroke has the honour of escorting the Cunard ship into port when she arrives in Liverpool in July. 

Until then it was happy sailing to The Queen Elizabeth, and Happy Birthday to Her Majesty!