Prince Harry, as Captain General of the Royal Marines, appeared in uniform for perhaps the final time ahead of stepping back as a senior royal as he attended a musical celebration in London. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given a standing ovation as they took their seats at the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music.
As the couple arrived for the performance, a celebration of the musical talent of the Royal Marines, they were given a long round of applause. Before taking their seats, they spent time meeting members of the Marines.
The evening marked two special anniversaries – 75 years since VE Day and 80 years since the formation of Britain’s Commandos. Prince Harry wrote the forward for the evening’s programme in which he said ”this Festival is…an opportunity to lift morale and inspire people of all ages”. The duke also praised the work of the Royal Marintes Charity – the evening was raising funds for it as well as for CLIC Sargent which helps young people living with cancer.
The Duke of Sussex, who served in the Army for ten years, wore the mess jacket of the Royal Marines for the engagement. Harry will step aside from his military appointments as he and Meghan start a new life working towards financial independence. The situation will be reviewed next year. In the meantime, no one else will be appointed to any of Harry’s military roles.
The Duke of Sussex took over as Captain General of the Royal Marines from his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in December 2017.
