Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025: HMS Prince of Wales arrives in Darwin

With stealth jets and helicopters in tow, a powerful European carrier has pulled into Darwin. SEE ALL THE PHOTOS.

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July 23, 2025 - 2:08PM

British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has pulled into Darwin Harbour during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

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Arriving in style, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group lead warship, the HMS Prince of Wales, has anchored in the Top End.

As locals made their way to work and school Wednesday morning, the mammoth aircraft carrier, escorted by a couple of tugs, emerged on the horizon and quietly passed into Darwin Harbour, berthing at Darwin’s naval base.

It is the first time in almost two decades that a British aircraft carrier has visited Australia.

Its arrival marks the second year in a row a foreign aircraft carrier has visited the Territory’s capital.

Last year, Italian warship ITS Cavour pulled into East Arm Wharf in July to participate in Exercise Pitch Black.

The back-end of a F-35B can be seen on deck. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Similarly, HMS Prince of Wales is taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre, with its F-35B stealth jets playing a pivotal role in the air-maritime space.

The HMS Prince of Wales strike group also includes the Royal Navy’s destroyer HMS Dauntless and frigate HMS Richmond.

At a cost of approximately $6.4bn AUD, the Royal Navy considers the carrier one of the most powerful surface vessels ever constructed in the UK.

The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier is on an eight month overseas mission.

It can embark 36 F-35Bs and four helicopters with the incredible ability to cover up to 500 nautical miles in a day.

Launched in 2017, it is the second vessel of its class, with HMS Queen Elizabeth having launched just a few years earlier.

HMS Prince of Wales’ arrival was more than a year in the making.

Last year, Defence Minister Richard Marles told this publication he had been discussing with UK Defence Minister John Healey the prospect of hosting a UK warship in the Top End.

Of note, the carrier’s arrival continues the star-studded guest list of foreign warships to have dropped into the Top End.

In March, US nuclear-powered submarine USS Minnesota quietly undertook maintenance work at the Chinese-run Port of Darwin facility.

A couple of months later, Japanese frigate JS Yahagi berthed at Kuru Wharf, giving local sailors a close look at one of the world’s latest ‘stealth’ warships.