The Prince of Wales, 73, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 74, are currently on their first overseas trip since the start of the pandemic. The couple are travelling through Jordan and Egypt for a trip that was originally scheduled for March 2020.

       Charles and Camilla were expected to tour HMS Queen Elizabeth during the final day of their tour of Egypt.

       However, Clarence House announced on Friday, just a few hours before the event, that the visit would no longer take place.

       The cancellation comes just days after a jet from the warship crashed in the Mediterranean.

       The F35 jet, estimated to be worth around ￡100 million, crashed into the ocean on Wednesday.

       The pilot was able to eject themselves from the aircraft before the crash and was later rescued.

       An investigation has been launched into the incident, the Ministry of Defence said.

       A Clarence House spokesman said: “For operational reasons, the visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth has been cancelled.”

       The F35 jets are kept onboard the ￡3 billion warship HMS Queen Elizabeth.

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       Former soldier Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the Commons Defence Select Committee, said he had “many questions” about the crash.

       A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed the incident which happened at around 10 am UK time on Wednesday.

       The spokesman said: “A British F35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning.

       “The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

       During the tour of the warship, Charles was expected to meet with Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander of the Carrier Strike Group, and Captain Ian Feasey, Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

       Also during the visit, he was scheduled to watch the launch of an F35 jet from the flight deck.

       The Prince of Wales was also expected to meet some of the ship’s company including US Navy and Marines.

       The visit was due to mark part of his and Camilla's two-day visit to Egypt.

       On Thursday, the couple visited the pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the Great Sphinx.

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