The British flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has been conducting a major NATO exercise due to a failed propeller shaft

The British flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth has been withdrawn from a NATO exercise due to a defective propeller shaft.

She would leave from Portsmouth today to participate in Exercise Steadfast Defender in Northern Europe, the largest NATO exercise since the end of the Cold War.

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With a red face Navy Officials said HMS Prince of Wales will take her place – but it is not clear when she will leave.

Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns said: “Routine pre-departure checks yesterday revealed a problem with a coupling on the starboard propeller shaft of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

“That's why the ship won't sail on Sunday.

“HMS Prince of Wales will take her place.”

Last month, The Sun revealed a report who claimed Royal Navy recruitment was so poor that defense bosses dismantled two warships.

HMS Westminsterrecently renovated at enormous taxpayer expense, and HMS Argyll will be inactivated this year, with crews sent to work on a yet-to-be-released new fleet of frigates.

Although the government has limited the size of the Armed Forces, Recruitment is still below target.

In 2023, the influx into the Navy and Marines fell by 22.1 percent compared to the previous year, while the RAFs fell by 17 percent and that of the army by 15 percent.

The Navy currently has 26,330 personnel.

The Department of Defense has ordered eight Type 26 frigates, the Navy's most advanced submarine-hunting warships yet.