Stoic Philip says a final farewell as weather rains on his parade

Jamie Thompson, 31, of Carlisle, Cumbria who handed him a baton to mark a Royal Marines Charity running challenge.

Told they had run 1,664 miles in 100 days for the challenge, the Prince said: “You should all be locked up.”

Cpl Thompson said: “He said we were mad for running that distance.”

Former Brigadier Mike Ellis, chief of the Royal Marines Association, said: “It’s always a pleasure to meet him, he’s always unique and doesn’t take any prisoners. I do feel sorry for him because it’s his last public event and it’s rained on his parade quite considerably.”

Cpl Gingell said afterwards: “I think he was pretty upbeat, considering the weather and considering he’s 96.

“He was chatty, seemed happy to be there and was interested in what we’d done. He said we should all be locked up.”

It was the latest in a long line of blunt comments that have peppered some of his 250-odd annual public appearances – often raising a laugh but sometimes getting him into trouble. Philip’s public life began when he wed Princess Elizabeth in November 1947.

He gave up a promising career in the Royal Navy to fully support his wife when she became Queen aged 25 in February 1952 – and will still occasionally appear with her.

He has since made 637 official trips overseas, given 5,496 speeches and written 14 books.

He is also patron or president of more than 785 organisations.

One of his most successful projects is the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, which has helped millions of youths since it began in 1956.

But modest Philip has said: “I don’t run it... I mean, I eventually got landed with the responsibility or the credit for it.” When his retirement was announced in May, one man told him: “I’m sorry to hear you’re standing down” – to which Philip quipped: “Well, I can’t stand up much longer.”

Though still in robust health, Philip has been in hospital a handful of times since turning 90.

In December 2011 he had a stent inserted to control the flow of blood to his heart after being taken ill at Sandringham. The year after he missed some of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations due to a bladder infection, and in 2013 he underwent an “exploratory operation” on his abdomen.

Younger royals, including Prince William and wife Kate, will now take on more duties.

Theresa May said: “As he carries out his final public engagement, I thank the Duke of Edinburgh for a remarkable lifetime of service. I hope the Duke, after 22,219 solo engagements since 1952, can now enjoy a well-earned retirement.”

OF ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION