Around 300 of the ship's company took part in a Freedom of the City parade on Friday 21 November. See some pictures of the parade
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In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of being granted the Freedom of the City of Leeds, the parade marched through the city centre. The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Neil Taggart, and other Leeds dignitaries met the parade in Millennium Square for a special ceremony. Earlier this year HMS Ark Royal played a major role during the Iraq conflict when she operated as an assault ship and maritime headquarters during Operation TELIC in the Arabian Gulf. The association between Leeds and HMS Ark Royal stems back to World War II and the third Ark Royal which was adopted by the city in 1942.
In October 1973 the Ark Royal was granted The Freedom of Entry into the City, giving them the privilege of marching through the streets of the city on all ceremonial occasions. The last time this right was exercised was in 1994.  Listen: Katy Daley looks into the Ark Royal's association with the city for BBC Radio Leeds
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See some pictures of HMS Ark Royal
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