King Charles has delivered a landmark speech as he returns to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone in Devon.
The King expressed his pride and highlighted significance of his visit on the 360th birthday year of the Royal Marines after previously training as a helicopter pilot.
He said: “It has been a remarkable eighty-five years since my grandfather, King George VI, presented the King’s Badge to the best recruit in the King’s Squad, and I am so very pleased and proud to be able to do the same here today.
“As history has demonstrated, the Royal Marines have continued to remain at the very heart of our Nation’s defence, standing steadfast at the vanguard of change.
King Charles has delivered a landmark speech as he returns to the Royal Marines centre, where he trained as a helicopter pilot.
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The King added: “Today marks not just the end of your rigorous Commando training, with which I am all too familiar!
“All of you, as Royal Marines, will help to perpetuate our peace and freedom, both now and in the future.
“As your Captain General, I can only express my pride in each and every one of you, together with my admiration for passing such a demanding course.
King Charles was presented with a picture of himself tackling the high ropes in 1974 when the King, then the Prince of Wales, completed three days commando training.
King Charles presented the King’s Badge and a Green Beret to two specially selected trainees, Marine Osian Stephens and Joseph Ryan
PA
The 76-year-old monarch holds several military titles including the title of the Captain General of the Royal Marines, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
King Charles presented the King’s Badge and a Green Beret to two specially selected trainees, Marine Osian Stephens and Joseph Ryan.
This was the first time a King has presented the badges since his grandfather King George VI in 1939.
Marine Osian Stephens, from North Wales, received the award after completing his training despite requiring 10 months recuperation from a serious leg injury.
He said: “This moment will stay with me forever.”
King Charles met 100-year-old D-Day veteran Norman Ashford, a coxswain on a landing craft at Gold Beach
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Joseph Ryan, who received his Commando Medal and a green beret, added: “Being presented my green beret by the King is amazing, honestly the biggest honour I could ever have.”
The 20-year-old Marine said receiving the award from the King made nursing a shoulder injury worthwhile.
The King also met 100-year-old D-Day veteran Norman Ashford, a coxswain on a landing craft at Gold Beach, who spoke to the King about what he did during the landings and explained how he hopes to visit Normandy next year to mark the commemoration of the landings.
Ashford said: “It was a great honour to meet the King, I haven’t met royalty before and I just turned 100 on the 10th.”
The visit comes the day after King Charles 76th birthday, which he treated as a normal working day and carried out royal duties.
