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Last Updated: Friday, 12 December, 2003, 12:01 GMT
HMS Invincible returned to service
HMS Invincible
The ship's refit cost �65m
The Duke of York has filled in for the Queen by recommissioning the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible.

The Queen was due to officially return the vessel to active service in Portsmouth following her �65m refit, but was forced to cancel due to knee surgery.

The monarch originally launched Invincible during her Silver Jubilee year of 1977, and has recommissioned her before in 1989.

Prince Andrew is very familiar with the carrier, having served on her as Sea King helicopter pilot during the Falklands War in 1982.

'State of the art'

The ship returned to her Portsmouth base earlier this year after being refitted at Rosyth.

Her captain, Trevor Soar, said the refit had made her "state of the art".

The Queen is in the King Edward VII Hospital in London on Friday, having a torn cartilage removed from her left knee.

Among the 2,000 guests at the rededication were the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, and ten former Commanding Officers of the ship.

The service was conducted by the Chaplain of the Fleet, the Venerable Barry Hammett.



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SEE ALSO:
Invincible returns home
14 Mar 03  |  England
HMS Invincible: Floating fortress
16 Apr 99  |  UK News


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