The Prince of Wales has paid a visit to the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.

He arrived on the Parade Ground with The Parade Commander, Commander Will Peters. The Guard and the Divisions were formed up.

His Royal Highness inspected the front rank of the Guard including sailors from the Commonwealth and other countries including; Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, Bahamas, Lithuania, Tonga, Fiji, Germany and Georgia. The Prince also met members of the Divisions and the Royal Marines Band, before presenting graduation prizes to nine graduating Officer Cadets.

His Royal Highness then made a short speech before taking the salute from the newly commissioned Naval Officers, who marched past in review order. The Officer Cadets then entered the main college through the front doors, by marching up the steps from the parade for the first time since joining BRNC.

Following the parade, The Prince will attended a private reception in the College’s Britannia Museum, where guests included the nine award winners and their families.

Finally, The Prince returned to the Captain’s House where he planted a tree in the Captain’s garden, to mark his visit

It is just over 50 years since the young prince joined BRNC as a graduate entrant.

His Royal Highness was a member of Blake Division and he trained in Dartmouth for six weeks learning about navigation, leadership and the Royal Navy in general.

In 1974 he qualified as a helicopter pilot then joined 845 Naval Air Squadron operating from the Commando Carrier HMS Hermes.

The prince used his severance pay to set up The Prince’s Trust