Queen appoints Prince Harry to take over from his grandfather Philip as the Captain General of the Royal Marines
- Harry accompanies Prince Philip in his final duty as Captain General today
- Hosted incoming and outgoing Commandants General at Buckingham Palace
- Duke of Edinburgh's association with Royal Marines dates back 64 years to 1953
- Philip has carried out visits to Marines in Malta, Singapore, Norway and Cyprus
Prince Harry has taken over from his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh as Captain General of the Royal Marines, after the appointment was approved by the Queen.
Harry accompanied Prince Philip in his final duty as Captain General today, as they hosted the incoming and outgoing Commandants General at Buckingham Palace.
The Duke's association with the Royal Marines dates back 64 years to 1953, when he was appointed Captain General in succession to the Queen's father, King George VI.
![(From left) Major General Robert Magowan, outgoing Commandant General of the Royal Marines; the Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Harry; and Major General Charles Stickland, the incoming Commandant General, pose for a photograph at Buckingham Palace in London today](http://web.archive.org./web/20240427194745/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/15/4775033300000578-0-image-a-138_1513698032740.jpg)
(From left) Major General Robert Magowan, outgoing Commandant General of the Royal Marines; the Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Harry; and Major General Charles Stickland, the incoming Commandant General, pose for a photograph at Buckingham Palace in London today
![Prince Philip makes his final individual public engagement as he attends a parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge on the Buckingham Palace forecourt in London in August](http://web.archive.org./web/20240427194745/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/16/42E7F43C00000578-5195071-image-a-150_1513699240946.jpg)
Prince Philip makes his final individual public engagement as he attends a parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge on the Buckingham Palace forecourt in London in August
The Duke has carried out various overseas visits to the Marines, including to Malta in 1960, Singapore in 1968, Norway in 1980, Cyprus in 1984 and Belgium in 1993.
In 2000 he attended a service of dedication at Ouistreham-Riva-Bella in Normandy, France, as patron of the Normandy Royal Navy and Royal Marines Memorial Fund.
And he joined the Queen at the state opening of Parliament in 2014 in full ceremonial uniform as Captain General of the Royal Marines, to mark its 350th anniversary.
Harry began his military career at Sandhurst in 2005 and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Household Cavalry, Blues and Royals.
![Prince Harry visits The Royal Marines Tamar in August 2013 in Devonport, Devon](http://web.archive.org./web/20240427194745/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/16/47750BA400000578-5195071-image-a-163_1513701314136.jpg)
![Prince Philip attends the Afghanistan Operational Service Medals Parade at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset, in May 2013](http://web.archive.org./web/20240427194745/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/20/47750B8000000578-5195071-Prince_Philip_attends_the_Afghanistan_Operational_Service_Medals-a-1_1513715992211.jpg)
Harry visits The Royal Marines Tamar in 2013 in Devonport, Devon (left) and Philip attends the Afghanistan Operational Service Medals Parade in Taunton, Somerset, in the same year (right)
He went on to serve with the Armed Forces for ten years; going on two operational tours of Afghanistan, the first between 2007 and 2008 as a forward air controller.
After returning to Britain he was promoted to lieutenant in the Household Cavalry. Harry then began training as an Army Air Corps pilot in 2009.
He then began training an Apache pilot and became a fully operational attack helicopter pilot in 2012, before going on his second tour to Afghanistan.
The Corps of the Royal Marines is at the heart of the Royal Navy's amphibious capability and is viewed as one of the world's elite commando forces.
In October 1664 the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot became Britain's first 'sea soldiers', beginning a 353-year history to date.
Three centuries later in August 1923, the Royal Marines Artillery amalgamated with the Royal Marines Light Infantry to become the Royal Marines.
Royal Marines as commandos emerged during and after the Second World War – and today, the Marines number some 6,650 officers and men.
Most watched News videos
- Russia: Nuclear weapons in Poland would become targets in wider war
- Shocking moment pandas attack zookeeper in front of onlookers
- 'Dine-and-dashers' confronted by staff after 'trying to do a runner'
- Moment Met Police officer tasers aggressive dog at Wembley Stadium
- Boris Johnson: Time to kick out London's do-nothing Mayor Sadiq Khan
- Commuters evacuate King's Cross station as smoke fills the air
- Wills' rockstar reception! Prince of Wales greeted with huge cheers
- Shocking moment gunman allegedly shoots and kills Iraqi influencer
- Don't mess with Grandad! Pensioner fights back against pickpockets
- Humza Yousaf insists he will not resign as pressure builds
- Ashley Judd shames decision to overturn Weinstein rape conviction
- BREAKING: King Charles to return to public duties Palace announces