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Writer's pictureSi Biggs

HRH Prince Philip - Captain General Royal Marines

Updated: Apr 18, 2021


The Duke of Edinburgh (1921 - 2021) was laid to rest on 17th April 2021 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.


Prince Philip held the appointment of Captain General Royal Marines from 1 June 1953 - 19 December 2017, 64 years, 201 days in post.


His funeral which was planned by the Duke himself involved a stong Royal Marine presence.



A Royal Marine Bearer Party carried the Prince from the Land Rover hearse to St Georges Chapel pausing on the West Steps for the one minute silence bef⁸ore continuing inside.


The Duke’s Admiral of the Fleet Naval Cap and his Sword, given to him by King George VI, rest on the coffin. [@RoyalFamily]




‘The Last Post’ was sounded by Buglers of the Royal Marines, signalling that a soldier has gone to his final resting place.


It is followed by ‘Action Stations’, a naval call to battle, as requested by The Duke. [@RoyalFamily]


The Captain General Royal Marines is the ceremonial head of the Royal Marines. The uniform and insignia worn by the Captain General are those of a Royal Marines Colonel or higher depending on the appointee's current or previously held rank. This position is distinct from that of the Commandant General Royal Marines, the professional head (who is ranked as a major-general). The Captain General is appointed by the Monarch of the United Kingdom.



On his final Royal appointment Prince Philip 96, attended 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.



During the American Bicentennial in 1976, Prince Philip stayed in the Home of the Commandants of the USMC as a guest of Gen. Wilson. The room has since been named the Prince Philip Suite. [@CMC_MarineCorps]


I had the pleasure to be introduced to The Duke of Edinburgh with my section the day before flying to Northern Iraq on Ops in 1991, 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 back to my cabin 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 DUKS OF EDINBURGH, K.G., K.T., G.B.E., as Captain General of the Royal Marines.

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