Work on the construction contact was done along with the design work to maintain the overall schedule.
The main ship will cut metal by the end of 2022 and “this schedule is not affected,” the sources said.
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson said: “The National Flagship will advance the UK’s economic prosperity by serving as a distinguished diplomatic and trade platform, showcasing the best of British naval technology and engineering around the world.
“Accelerated procurement remains on track, with the design phase before metal cutting continues by the end of 2022, providing UK jobs, skills and prosperity across our shipbuilding sector.”
The Telegraph has campaigned to replace HMY Britannia to project the UK’s soft power around the world since 2016 when Britons voted to leave the European Union.
In July last year, Wallace told The Telegraph’s Chopper politics podcast that he wanted the flagship to be like a floating embassy, a place where world leaders could meet to agree trade deals that could showcase the best of British engineering, backed by the latest technology. So far “green technology”.
He said, “There are a lot of ways to get more out of the ship, to be more innovative. There are examples of ships here that basically mix sail and engine.”
Wallace was dismissive of critics who said the £250m could be better spent on other public services such as the National Health Service, saying the cost was “less than 0.01 percent of the defense budget” and “we could reshape other programmes”.
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