Duke passes Royal Marines baton to Prince Harry

PRINCE Harry is to take over from his grandfather as Captain General of the Royal Marines.

The Duke of Edinburgh has bowed out after 64 years in the ceremonial role.

Prince Philip was appointed in succession to the late King George VI.

Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Queen has been pleased to give her formal approval to the appointment of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (Harry’s official title) as Captain General Royal Marines.’ Philip’s final duty as Captain General was to receive Major General Robert Magowan, the outgoing Commandant General Royal Marines, and his replacement Major General Charles Stickland.

Harry was also at the Buckingham Palace event and the foursome posed for a photograph to mark the occasion. The Queen’s Consort announced in May he would be retiring from royal engagements after more than 65 years supporting the Monarch and attending events for his own charities and organisations.

As a former Royal Navy officer, it was fitting that Prince Philip’s last public solo event featured men from the Royal Marines, an integral part of the Navy.

On August 2 in Buckingham Palace’s forecourt, the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated the achievements of the Royal Marines who had taken part in the 1664 Global Challenge, a series of strength and endurance feats raising funds for the Royal Marines Charity.

It was the last of his 22,219 solo official engagements, carried out since 1952.

The Duke has joined the Queen at a number of events since then and in June spent two nights in hospital being treated for an unspecified infection.