By Ben Kerrigan-
King Charles will become the next Captain General of the Royal Marines after Prince Harry was stripped of the title when he stepped down as a senior royal.
Buckingham Palace announced the King’s takeover of the honorary military role from his son the day after details of the Duke of Sussex’s tell-all autobiography were released.
The ceremonial position was held by the Duke of Sussex until he left as a working royal. The Duke unsuccessfully hoped to keep his honorary military titles, despite moving to America.
Prior to that, it was held with distinction by the Duke of Edinburgh for nearly 65 years. Historically, it has been a role taken by kings, including Charles’s grandfather and great-grandfather.
The announcement that the King would serve as the new ceremonial head was made on the 358th anniversary of the founding of the Corps of Royal Marines.
It comes one day after confirmation that the Duke’s memoir, entitled Spare, will be released on Jan 10.
There had been speculation about which member of the Royal Family would be given the role, with the Princess Royal tipped for the position.
The duke was stripped of his military titles, which also included Commodore-in-Chief of Ships and Diving, and Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington, in February 2021 after he and the Duchess of Sussex announced their plans to stop being working royals the previous year.
Charles III is to become Captain General Royal Marines, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
In a statement to mark the 358th anniversary of the Corps of Royal Marines, the King said he was “exceptionally proud” to become its ceremonial head.
“It is the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role of your Captain General,” he said.
“I am exceptionally proud to follow in the footsteps of so many members of my family over the last three-and-a-half centuries, all of whom held the role with a deep sense of admiration.
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“The Royal Marines have a distinguished and unparalleled history, both on land and at sea. I draw immense inspiration from your courage, determination, self-discipline and a remarkable capacity to endure in the most extreme environments.
“I feel greatly honoured to become part of the Corps Family and very much look forward to meeting many of you in the near future. In the meantime, this comes with my heartfelt and special wishes for a very happy 358th birthday. Per Mare, Per Terram.”
On Thursday, it was revealed Prince Harry’s memoir SPARE will be released on 10 January.
The title appears to be a reference to the phrase “heir and a spare” – suggesting his attitude toward his place in the Royal Family.
Billed as “his story at last”, the book also delves into Prince Harry’s “personal journey from trauma to healing”.
“With its raw, unflinching honesty, SPARE is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief,” a description of the book reads.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on the announcement.