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Nations ’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales to receive Freedom of Liverpool
3 December 2024
If you want to see Naval pomp and ceremony at its finest, be in Liverpool city centre on Friday afternoon for an occasion to remember.
Led by the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland, hundreds of sailors from the nation’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales will march around the historic heart of the port city, saluting Lord Mayor Richard Kemp and Commanding Officer Captain Will Blackett as they pass the 270-year-old town hall.
The hour-long parade follows a service in Liverpool’s Parish Church, which celebrates Liverpool ties with the sea, during which the aircraft carrier receives the highest civic honour – Freedom of the City.
The scroll presented to the ship thus allows the sailors to march through the city ‘with drums beating and bayonets fixed’ according to historic law.
In receiving the Freedom of the City, HMS Prince of Wales joins a rich pantheon of local and national figures and organisations: dashing Great War admiral Sir David Beatty and Max Horton, the man who defeated the U-boats in World War 2, plus crew of the most recent HMS Liverpool, as well as names from politics, industry, sport and culture, among them Nelson Mandela, Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, former Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp, Brookside/Grange Hill creator Phil Redmond and, most recently, actress Sue Johnston.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Richard Kemp, said: “Liverpool has always had a significant connection with the Royal Navy, particularly during times of conflict, including the pivotal Battle of the Atlantic in World War 2.
“Those strong links remain today, and the City acknowledges the role the ship and her company play in both the defence of the nation and within the local community.
“It is an honour to admit the vessel to the Freedom Roll of Associations and Institutions.”
This is brilliant – I am made up. I am here in my home port, I get to show off the ship to my and my girlfriend’s families, so happy days.
Captain Will Blackett, the flagship's Commanding Officer, said his ship already enjoyed a “deep link” with Liverpool, which served as “a real source of inspiration and pride which will carry us through the challenges ahead.
“This is an incredible City with national duty and service etched into its heart and I see a poignant link between the duty performed by Liverpool and the duty our sailors hold in the Royal Navy.”
The church service – which is invitation only due to the size of the church – begins at 12.30pm. The ship’s company will begin forming up outside St Nicholas’ from 1.30pm, marching off at 2pm down The Strand, then turning left up James Street, then into Castle Street and left again in front of the town hall and down Brunswick Street.
The parade is expected to last around an hour and will be followed by a reception on board HMS Prince of Wales, after which the ship’s company will hit the town in uniform for a ‘rig run’ with Liverpudlians encouraged by their Lord Mayor to show their legendary hospitality to the sailors.
HMS Prince of Wales arrived on Sunday morning with crew members who hail from the city particularly interested to show off the nation’s flagship to loved ones.
Marine Engineer Declan Bennett, aged 21, from Kirkby, specifically asked to be drafted to the ship because of her ties with his home city.
“This is brilliant – I am made up. I am here in my home port, I get to show off the ship to my and my girlfriend’s families, so happy days.”
Shipmate Petty Officer John Meacock has visited his home city six times with the Navy, including with the carrier on her debut in early 2020.
“This is a great opportunity for us to show what we do – so much of the Navy’s actions are done out of sight,” said the senior rate who has 33 years under his belt.
“Also everyone says that Liverpool is the best run ashore – even if they are from Newcastle.”
HMS Prince of Wales is in Liverpool until Monday when she sails back to Portsmouth.