The Royal Navy has given its newest Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarine a regal name - and will be first RN vessel to be named in honour of King George VI, father of the Queen and a former naval officer.

King George VI will be the fourth of the new Dreadnought-class missile submarines, which will form part of the UK's nuclear deterrent programme when they enter service in the early 2030s. They will replace the Vanguard-class submarines, becoming the largest submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt revealed the name ahead of a special service at Westminster Abbey. The service, attended by George VI’s great-grandson and Duke of Cambridge Prince William, was held to recognise the Royal Navy’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) or Operation Relentless over the past 50 years..

Mordaunt said: “Operation Relentless has seen generations of submariners from HMS Resolution to HMS Vengeance on constant watch, for every minute of every day for the last five decades. This is the longest military operation we have ever undertaken and continues right this minute deep under the sea.

“We pay tribute to those incredible crews, their supportive families, the Royal Navy and the thousands of industry experts who will continue to sustain this truly national endeavour for many years to come.”

“These submarines represent the cutting-edge of underwater capability and will meet the awesome challenge of continuous at sea deterrence into the second half of the 21st century.”

First Sea Lord admiral Sir Philip Jones said: “Today’s announcement that the fourth of our future ballistic missile submarine fleet will be named HMS King George VI follows a long tradition of naming capital ships after our country’s monarchs; together with her sisters Dreadnought, Valiant and Warspite these submarines represent the cutting-edge of underwater capability and will meet the awesome challenge of continuous at sea deterrence into the second half of the 21st century.”

King George VI will be the fourth of the new Dreadnought-class missile submarines, which are expected to enter service in the early 2030s

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