The HMS Ark Royal: Decommissioned after 25 years

HMS Ark Royal sails in thick fog into Portsmouth for the final time after it was announced that it would be decommissioned as part of the government's defence review Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

People wave as HMS Ark Royal sails into Portsmouth for the final time Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

Sailors wave to crowds on the shore from the stern of HMS Ark Royal Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

Crew aboard HMS Ark Royal as it sails into Portsmouth Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

Piper Larry Cunningham plays as the HMS Ark Royal sails into Portsmouth Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

5 November 2010: The Queen, accompanied by the commanding officer, Captain Jerry Kyd (left), inspects the guard during her visit to HMS Ark Royal at the Royal Navy dockyard Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

5 November 2010: Queen Elizabeth visits the HMS Ark Royal at the Royal Navy dockyard in Portsmouth Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

1558: Illustration of the English fleet's flagship for the Spanish Armada campaign, the HMS Ark Royal – then a 38-gun frigate sailing ship Photograph: Mansell/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

1558: The HMS Ark Royal, Lord Howard of Effingham's flagship when he was admiral-in-command of the English fleet during the Spanish Armada Photograph: Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

10 January 2003: Daybreak over the aircraft carrier moored In Portsmouth harbour Photograph: Rex Features/Rex Features

1940: A Swordfish aircraft banks as it prepares to land on the Ark Royal in the Mediterranean Photograph: Haynes Archive/Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

13 November 1941: The HMS Ark Royal, with crew still on board, listing to one side shortly before sinking off Gibralter after being torpedoed by a German submarine Photograph: Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

3 May 1950: The Queen launching the Ark Royal, Britain's most powerful aircraft carrier, from Birkenhead's Cammell Laird shipyard Photograph: Staff / Daily Mail / Rex Features/Staff / Daily Mail / Rex Features

3 May 1950: Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother launching the HMS Ark Royal in Birkenhead Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

October 1955: The Ark Royal pictured in the English Channel Photograph: Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

26 September 1961: The HMS Ark Royal leaves Devonport after being re-fitted Photograph: Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

1966: The Queen Mother steps out of a helicopter on to the Ark Royal Photograph: Daily Mail / Rex Features/Daily Mail / Rex Features

2 June 1981: The Royal Navy's new £220m aircraft carrier Ark Royal on the Tyne being launched by the Queen Mother Photograph: PA

29 June 1986: The HMS Ark Royal enters New York Harbour for Liberty weekend festivities Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images

30 July 2002: Status Quo launching their new album, Heavy Traffic, on board the HMS Ark Royal Photograph: Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features/Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features

10 January 2003: Angela Scales aged 18, the youngest person aboard the HMS Ark Royal, poses for photographers
Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian

10 January 2003: The Silver Bell – which was purchased after the sinking of the HMS Ark Royal III in 1941 and bequeathed to the next Ark Royal so her name would not be forgotten – aboard the current Ark Royal
Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian

13 January 2003: The Royal Navy aircraft carrier takes on board supplies in Loch Long in Argyll, Scotland, during the build-up to the Iraq war Photograph: Murdo Macleod/Murdo Macleod

January 2003: An unidentified armed sailor aboard the HMS Ark Royal
Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian

21 May 2003: Families cheer the HMS Ark Royal from the dockside Photograph: Mick Young / Rex Features/Mick Young / Rex Features

29 September 2006: The aircraft carrier departs for sea trials from the Rosyth dockyard under the Forth Rail Bridge Photograph: David Cheskin/PA

9 March 2007: A passer-by waves at the HMS Ark Royal as it enters Ijmuiden on a visit to Amsterdam Photograph: Olaf Kraak/AFP/Getty Images