For the first time as their Captain General, Prince Harry inspected the recruits.
The Duke of Sussex flew into Lympstone, near Exeter, in a Royal Navy Wildcat, which is a maritime attack helicopter from the Commando Helicopter Force.
After a ceremonial welcome where the Duke inspected the trainees, he watched on as recruits were trained in the gym as well as outside on a ‘rope regain’ course.
The @RoyalMarines, which can trace its origin back to 1664, is the UK’s elite amphibious fighting force.
Each recruit has to complete the Commando course, including the ‘rope regain’ assault course 💪 pic.twitter.com/qSSmispUzL
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 13, 2018
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He also spent time with those who benefit from the Royal Marine Family. A charity that supports both serving and retired Marines and their families onsite at Lympstone.
It also marked another cross over to a different passion of Prince Harry’s- the Invictus Games.
With just over a month until the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney, Harry met with former Royal Marine Commandos Steve McCulley and Paul Vice, both part of the UK’s Invictus Racing Team.
The team consists of two professionals and four injured ex-servicemen of the Royal Marines, RAF, and the Parachute Regiment. The teams compete in two specially adapted Jaguar GT4 race cars for the 2018 British GT Championship thanks to a partnership between the Invictus Games and the Championship.
@KensingtonRoyal/Twitter
The Duke climbed into the driver’s seat of one of the cars but did not take it out for a test run. However, at the past Invictus Games, Prince Harry has taken part in the public driving challenge taking some of the cars out for a spin.
He did pose next to a child’s version of one of the Invictus racecars, appearing to try to climb in. Perhaps his niece or nephew’s would be better fitted!
Prince Harry has been Captain General of the Royal Marines since his the Duke of Edinburgh passed the role onto him in 2017.
