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Flagship debuts in Singapore as carrier group begins key South-east Asia visits
23 June 2025
THE UK’s flagship made an impressive debut in a rainy Singapore today as the Carrier Strike Group begins a series of high-profile visits across South-east Asia.
With her 900ft flight deck lined with F-35B Lightning stealth fighters, Merlin helicopters and many of the 1,600 men and women of the ship’s company, HMS Prince of Wales arrived at the Marina Bay cruise terminal – against the backdrop of Singapore’s stunning Manhattan-esque skyline.
She was greeted by cheering youngsters and the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines – who’ve flown out to the region to support the Carrier Strike Group’s visit.
The ships of the multi-national naval group are spread across the region for their first major public visit of the Operation Highmast deployment, which began in Portsmouth two months ago.
HMS Prince of Wales is joined in Singapore by her escorting destroyer HMS Dauntless, also based in Portsmouth, plus tanker RFA Tidespring, Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen and New Zealand’s HMNZS Te Kaha – which has joined the multi-national force in the past fortnight.
Five hundred miles away the frigates HMS Richmond and SPS Méndez Núñez are enjoying the hospitality of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
And the final vessel in the carrier group, Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, is visiting Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
"The UK Carrier Strike Group as a whole is really looking forward to the upcoming port visits. They are vital opportunities to conduct defence diplomacy in support of economic and diplomatic objectives.”
In each port, the ships will promote the Strike Groups overarching mission – demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region alongside allies and partners, including celebrating 60 years of Anglo-Singaporean relations, making us secure at home and strong abroad.
‘’We have brilliant people in this ship, and they’ve been working really hard. Singapore is an incredible place to be and we have received the warmest welcome... we’re excited to show off the flagship,” said Captain Will Blackett, HMS Prince of Wales’ Commanding Officer.
There is also a series of activities, engagement, and events, such as performances by the Royal Marines Band in high-profile locations in Singapore and Jakarta, to celebrate the best of British and its Armed Forces.
In addition, the visits across the region are being used to champion the best of the UK’s defence and technology industries to hopefully generate trade and exports.