Welsh naval officer’s major ceremonial role
A WELSHMAN had a very central role in the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral ceremony.
Hywel Morgan led the Royal Navy Contingent forming a Guard of Honour for the Prince.
The 33-year-old lieutenant commander from the Rhondda was selected as Captain of the Royal Navy Guard due to his ship’s unique association with the Queen’s husband.
Lieutenant Commander Morgan commands survey vessel HMS Magpie, named after the frigate which His
Royal Highness commanded at the beginning of the 1950s.
The father-of-two has served in the Royal Navy for almost 11 years, with much of it spent with survey ships, especially HMS Enterprise, including last year when he helped survey the port in Beirut in the wake of the catastrophic harbour explosion.
He also commanded fast patrol boat HMS Express, the only Royal Navy warship based in Wales, which is used to give university students a taste of naval life as well as support general training and front-line operations when required. He took charge of HMS Magpie just days before the Duke’s passing.
Prince Philip never had the opportunity to visit the new HMS Magpie, which entered service in the summer of 2018, but he did receive regular updates from the ship’s company on their work surveying harbours around the UK.
Three of the ship’s company of the small Devonport-based craft were called up as part of the Royal Navy’s involvement in ceremonial duties surrounding the Duke’s passing.
Under the direction of the Royal Navy’s State Ceremonial team, sailors had been honing their drill, firstly at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire, and then alongside their Army and Royal Air Force counterparts at Pirbright in Surrey.
Lieutenant Commander Morgan said before the service: “With the Duke’s links with the Navy through history, it’s an absolute privilege and honour to be taking part.”