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British RoyalsThe Sussexes

The Duke of Sussex to honour 50 year military anniversary inside Arctic Circle

The Duke of Sussex will mark a special milestone for the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) when he visits Bardufoss, Norway on February 14th in his role as Captain General Royal Marines.

Exercise Clockwork, which first took place in 1969, is happening for the 50th time this winter. During Clockwork, the CHF test their skills operating in freezing temperatures against the backdrop of the Arctic’s stunning mountains and fjords.

Located 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, this demanding environment has provided essential cold-weather training for more than 16,000 Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel over the years.

While in Norway, the duke will visit the Joint Helicopter Command Facility at Royal Norweigan Air Force Station Bardufoss, where he will meet Naval Service aviators and their helicopters, and learn more about the history of Exercise Clockwork. He will be shown outdoor ground training, field tents, snow vehicles and a Quincey Shelter, a special shelter used by elite forces.

The aviators of the CHF are known as the wings of the Royal Marines. They are responsible for delivering military personnel to all types of locations and terrain around the world, and Exercise Clockwork prepares them for dealing with extreme cold temperatures and operating in frozen conditions.

The Duke of Sussex was appointed Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017. He succeeded his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who served in the role for 64 years after taking over as Captain General on the death of King George VI.

As Captain General Royal Marines, the duke serves as ceremonial head of the Royal Marines. He served in the British Armed Forces from 2005 until 2015, making two tours to Afghanistan and operating in various roles including as an Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot.

Upon leaving military service in 2015, the Duke of Sussex said: “The experiences I have had over the last 10 years will stay with me for the rest of my life. For that I will always be hugely grateful.”

About author

Kristin was Chief Reporter for Royal Central until 2022 and has been following the British royal family for more than 30 years. Kristin has appeared in UK and U.S. media outlets discussing the British royals including BBC Breakfast, BBC World News, Sky News, the Associated Press, TIME, The Washington Post, and many others.