THE head of the Royal Navy said the British shipbuilding industry had a "great future" as construction began on the UK's most powerful surface warships.

Princess Anne joined First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band at Govan shipyard yesterday for the symbolic "cutting of steel" for HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of two new aircraft carriers.

The contracts for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales were signed last July.

The 65,000-tonne ships, due to enter service in 2014 and 2016, can be manoeuvred around the globe to defend the country's interests.

A leaked memo raised concerns last week over the future of jobs with BVT Surface Fleet at Govan and Scotstoun once the ships are completed.

But Sir Jonathon, BVT chief executive Alan Johnston and Defence Equipment Minister Quentin Davies said prospects for the Clyde were better than ever.

Sir Jonathon said: "Obviously I can't predict the exact size of the industry in 10 years' time, but the fact that we have the capacity to build ships like these carriers means, I believe very firmly, that the British shipbuilding industry has a great future because very few people can do this sort of work."

Of the two new carriers, he said: "They will be absolutely central to the way that this country will deploy and use maritime power.

"With sizeable aircraft carriers you are able to go around the world and exert influence in areas of the world which are of strategic importance to us, to work with friends, to deter enemies and, if necessary, to go into action."

Princess Anne, dressed in naval uniform, watched as the steel was cut on the main hull of the ship.

Up to 80,000 tonnes of steel is on order for the two carriers - three times the amount used in the construction of Wembley Stadium.

Around 184ft long, the ships will be capable of a top speed of more than 25 knots.

The construction programme is being led by Aircraft Carrier Alliance - a team formed from BVT Surface Fleet, Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales UK and the MOD.

Mr Johnston said: "It's a very symbolic day for the aircraft lines, for the Royal Navy, BVT and defence across the UK.

"The cutting of the first steel for any ship is always a very symbolic moment, but for the aircraft carriers I think it is a truly historic day. The morale of the workers is soaring.

"We can see solid workloads through the shipyards for the next seven years and we can see the ability to invest in our future on the back of this programme."

The chief executive told those gathered for the ceremony he did not think the industry had experienced such a full order book for a "long, long time".

Mr Davies described the beginning of construction on the ships as "unambiguously good news" and said he believed the prospects for the Clyde had not looked so good for several generations.

He added: "The versatility of the design, together with the long service life of these ships, will ensure we will be able to deal with the uncertainties of the future for years to come and they will deliver the support to deployed UK forces around the globe.

"It is an honour to mark this historic moment in Govan."