RMC Annual Review 2020-21 digital (1) - Flipbook - Page 40
Never above you, never below you, always by your side
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
His Royal Highness
The Duke of
Edinburgh KG KT
1921 – 2021
was enormously proud of his role
as Captain General of the Royal
Marines. As someone who has had
the honour of serving in the Royal
Marines, I shall speak to this role and
to the great contribution he made
to our corps over many years.”
We as a Corps were
immensely privileged
and fortunate that, from
June 1953 to December
2017 — nearly 65 years —
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
was our Captain General.
He completely understood the Corps
and its specialist warfare branches.
He understood the commando spirit
and the egalitarian nature of the
Corps. With his extensive operational
experience in World War II, he
understood that the highest standards
are essential for fighting troops.
Lord Burnett recently spoke of the Duke
in the House of Lords upon his passing;
“My Lords, in his compelling speech,
the noble and gallant Lord, Lord
Boyce, referred to the fact that His
Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
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Royal Marines have been deployed
on operations almost continuously
through his service as Captain
General. He took a keen interest
in their deployment and in their
training. He was a source of wise
advice and encouragement to the
many Marines that he met. He was
at ease when he was with us and he
put everyone else at ease. He had a
wonderful sense of humour, which is
an essential quality for a Royal Marine.
He was a straight talker and he led
by example with an indomitable
spirit. His great qualities were hugely
appreciated by all Royal Marines,
including the many who are badged
into the United Kingdom Special
Forces. It is no accident that his last
official engagement in 2017 was
with our great Corps, including our
superb Royal Marines Band Service,
in the grounds of Buckingham
Palace. It rained the whole time.
He was 96 years old; he enjoyed
the occasion and spoke to many
serving Royal Marines, retired
Marines and cadets. He understood
and appreciated the strength of the
Royal Marines family — once a Royal
Marine, always a Royal Marine. That
goes too for their spouses, partners,
children, parents and many more.
All the members of our Corps wish
to send our deepest sympathies to
Her Majesty the Queen. We owe
an enormous debt of gratitude to
her late husband who was revered
and respected and who was,
and will continue to be, held in
profound and lasting affection.
“His Royal Highness
was enormously
proud of his role as
Captain General
of the Royal Marines.”
Celebrating the 75th Year of the RMA
www.rma-trmc.org
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