The 65,000-tonne British aircraft carrier HMS QueenElizabeth sits moored to thbe quayside at Portsmouth Naval base, its new home port, in Portsmouth, southern England on August 16, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ben STANSAL)

LONDON, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Britain's biggest flagship of the Royal Navy, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Wednesday sailed for the first time into Portsmouth, its home port, and was greeted by thousands of people.

Secretary of State for Defense Sir Michael Fallon said: "Today we welcome our mighty new warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth to her home for the very first time. She is Britain's statement to the world: a demonstration of British military power and our commitment to a bigger global role."

The 65,000 tone warship was also greeted with a flypast from the Fleet Air Arm, including Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and Hawk jets.

Fallon said the thousands of people across Britain who played a part in building her and her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, should be immensely proud as the Royal Navy's future flagship enters Portsmouth.

"She has made good progress in sea trials and will now embark on the next phase of preparations that will see the return of Britain's carrier strike ability," added Fallon.

When the carrier enters service, she will help keep Britain safe at a time of increased threats, able to fill multiple roles from providing air power anywhere at any time to fight future campaigns, supporting allies or delivering humanitarian aid, said Fallon.

The carrier is 280 meters in length and has a speed of 25 knots, with a flight deck large enough to accommodate three full sized football pitches. It has a crew of around 700, increasing to 1,600 when a full complement of F-35B aircraft and four Crowsnest helicopters are added later.

Captain Jerry Kyd, the Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, said: "HMS Queen Elizabeth's first entry into her home port of Portsmouth is an historic, proud and exciting occasion, not only for those of us serving in her, but also for the wider Royal Navy, the city of Portsmouth and the entire nation.

Portsmouth's links with the Royal Navy date back more than 500 years, and the two new carriers will ensure the city remains the focal point of Britain's maritime power for generations to come.

The second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, will be officially named in a ceremony at Rosyth next month.