HMS Richmond, after decades of distinguished service to the nation, is due to retire this year and will likely conduct a coastal farewell tour of Britain as its final chapter.
In emotional scenes, Royal Navy sailors held a parade for the Type 23 frigate in the market town of Richmond, Yorkshire, that bears the ship’s name.
The warship recently returned to Plymouth last Christmas with a fanfare of gunfire, after a global mission with the UK Carrier Strike Group on Operation Highmast, joining forces with HMS Prince of Wales in the Far East and Australia.
The Richmond was one of the first vessels to receive the Naval Strike Missile system in March 2025.
Designed to last 18 years and commissioned in 1995 with over 31 years of loyal service, it will join the list of other ships recently decommissioned: HMS Westminster, HMS Northumberland, and HMS Montrose.
