King Charles replaces Prince Harry as Captain General of the Marines

28 October 2022, 15:04 | Updated: 4 November 2022, 10:05

The Palace has announced King Charles take over the role of Captain General of the Royal Marines the day after the details of the Duke's tell-all autobiography SPARE were released.
The Palace has announced King Charles take over the role of Captain General of the Royal Marines the day after the details of the Duke's tell-all autobiography SPARE were released. Picture: Alamy / LBC

By Chris Samuel

Buckingham Palace has announced King Charles take over the role of Captain General of the Royal Marines the day after the details of the Duke's tell-all autobiography SPARE were released.

There had been speculation about which member of The Firm would be handed the position, with Anne, Princess Royal tipped for the role.

The Duke lost 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 wife Meghan Markle announced their intention to step back as working royals the year before.

In a statement marking the Corps of Royal Marines's 358th anniversary, the King said he was "exceptionally proud" to assume the role.

Read more: Prince Harry's tell-all memoir will be called 'Spare' and released on January 10, publisher reveals

Read more: 'You're not trying!' Hospital patient takes on Sunak over nurses' pay as he U-turns on £10 missed appointment charge

He said: "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."

In a statement marking the Corps of Royal Marines's 358th anniversary, the King said he was "exceptionally proud" to take on the role.
In a statement marking the Corps of Royal Marines's 358th anniversary, the King said he was "exceptionally proud" to take on the role. Picture: Alamy

The monarch then quoted the Corps's motto: 'Per Mare, Per Terram', which is Latin for "By Land and By Sea".

Yesterday it was revealed that Prince Harry's memoir SPARE - an apparent reference to the phrase 'heir and spare'.

The book has been billed as "his story at last", and also delves into his "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.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Reform UK Holds a Regional Conference In Wiltshire

Farage claims Conservative Party has less than 100,000 members and blasts Kemi Badenoch for calling Reform member numbers 'fake'

Foreign Ministers attend an Arab League extraordinary meeting in Cairo on October 11, 2023.

Egypt to host emergency Arab League summit after Trump announces plan to displace 1.8 million Palestinians and 'take over Gaza'

Jack Fincham.

Love Island star admits to feeling like a 'failure' after spending '£1 million on drugs, alcohol and gambling'

Westminster Abbey and Church House

Church of England meeting at time of ‘unprecedented crisis’ after scandals and historical abuse claims

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing

easyJet flight forced to make emergency landing after pilot collapses on board

Joel Verite was among the first on the scene of the Southport knife attack where three girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party.

Southport hero who came face-to-face with Rudakubana as he rushed to save dying girls says it was 'like a horror film'

Labour vows to punish any other MP or minister caught up in Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp group scandal

Labour vows to punish any MP caught up in Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp group scandal

Donald Trump has spoken to Vladimir Putin

Trump confirms he 'spoke to Putin about ending war in Ukraine' as Russian president 'wants to see people stop dying'

displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops withdraw from key militarised corridor that splits Gaza in two as part of ceasefire deal

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoon.

Mysterious death of British couple in French villa suspected murder-suicide as investigators consider new theories

David Schwimmer has called for Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X

Friends star David Schwimmer calls for Kanye West to be banned from X over 'hate-filled, ignorant' remarks

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in a mid-air collision near DCA in Arlington, VA.

All major parts of DC plane and Black Hawk helicopter involved in mid-air collision recovered, investigators confirm

A Thai hostage who was freed from Hamas, Pongsak Thaenna, hugs a relative upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

'We never gave up hope': Freed Thai hostages in tears of joy as they reunite with families after more than a year

Harry and Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games.

Meghan and Prince Harry cheer on Team UK at Invictus Games opening ceremony

Daisy the Labrador.

Stolen dog reunited with family after seven years

Irish boxer John Cooney.

Boxer dies from a brain bleed, from injury during championship fight