Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
(10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021)
On his final Royal appointment Prince Philip, who turned 96 in June, will today attend a parade at Buckingham Palace to mark the finale of the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge.
He succeeded his late father-in-law, King George VI, as captain general in June 1953. It was George’s premature death, in February 1952 at the age of 56, that curtailed Philip’s own promising career in the Royal Navy.
Prince Philip was mentored for several years by his uncle Lord Mountbatten, who as head of the Navy was also an honorary General in the Corps.
I had the pleasure to be introduced to him with my section the day before flying to Kuwait on Ops in 1994, he was very interested in everyone and asked some very relevant questions, he wished us luck and a safe deployment and I got a ride in his Range Rover!
The London Gazette
OF TUESDAY, 26th MAY, 1953,
1 JUNE, 1953 Admiralty, Whitehall, S.W.I. 1st June, 1953.
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of Her Majesty's Coronation, to give orders for the following appointment: — Admiral of the Fleet His Royal Highness THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, K.G., K.T., G.B.E., as Captain General of the Royal Marines.
Related Royal Marines 'Dits'