The Flagship of the Royal Navy, HMS Prince of Wales (R09) departed earlier today from Portsmouth, England on a 8-month worldwide deployment, with port visits planned in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia. Accompanying the Prince of Wales will be a multi-national fleet of naval vessels, which includes the Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Dauntless (D33) and the Type 23 Frigate, HMS Richmond (F239), alongside dozens of other ships from Norway, Canada, and other members of NATO. Additionally, the No. 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force and the 809 Naval Air Squadron, which both operate the F-35B Lightning II, will be embarked aboard the Prince of Wales for the duration of the deployment, which has been dubbed Operation Highmast.