Updated - Illustrious sails in

The British helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious sailed into Grand Harbour this morning for a short visit. Sailors and marines lined the flight deck as the carrier sailed into the placid harbour with a Merlin helicopter circling overhead. The carrier berthed at Valletta Waterfront and will be open to visitors on Wednesday and Thursday between 1 and 4pm. It leaves on Friday. A reception in honour of the Earl and Countess of Wessex will be held on board the vessel today. The Illustrious, commanded by Captain Martin Connell, forms part of a UK task response group, headed by Commodore Paddy McAlpine, along with three other ships: HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay and MV Hartland Point. The four ships are taking part in a three-month training deployment to the Mediterranean involving more than 3,000 sailors and marines. Illustrious no longer carries fixed wing carcraft, its Harrier jump jets having been retired. While in Grand Harbour, sailors and marines will be helping out at a variety of worthy causes. These will include a clean-up in collaboration with the Nature Trust. HMS Illustrious is twinned with the Three Cities – Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua recalling the role of its...