HMS Prince Of Wales remains off the Isle of Wight this morning (Monday) as investigations continue into what a Royal Navy spokeswoman called "an emerging mechanical issue."

The aircraft carrier broke down on Saturday, shortly after leaving Portsmouth and sailing past Southsea's Victorious Festival, through the Solent, for exercises in the US.

The 65,000-tonne warship is currently at anchor off Ventnor and has been spotted by Islanders.

The £3 billion vessel’s departure had previously been delayed from Friday, August 26, because of a technical issue.

Isle of Wight County Press: HMS Prince of Wales in 2021, by David Ralph from Isle of Wight County Press Camera Club.HMS Prince of Wales in 2021, by David Ralph from Isle of Wight County Press Camera Club.

A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: "HMS Prince of Wales remains in the South Coast Exercise Area while conducting investigations into an emerging mechanical issue."

The Royal Navy was not able to offer any further details or confirm if the earlier technical issue was related to the mechanical problem.

The Nato flagship is sailing to undertake training exercises with the US Navy as well as the Royal Canadian Navy and United States Marine Corps, reported PA.

A Royal Navy spokesman said on Saturday: "HMS Prince of Wales will cross the Atlantic with her task group, ready to push the boundaries of un-crewed technology and the tactics used by the UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.

"Along with notable port stops in New York, Halifax in Canada, and the Caribbean, the next three months will see the Prince of Wales task group work closely with US allies, operating F-35B jets and un-crewed systems which will define Royal Navy aviation of the future.

"With fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth also set to deploy to the Mediterranean and Baltic this autumn at the heart of a potent Royal Navy task group, it will mean both UK aircraft carriers will be operating F-35B jets thousands of miles apart."