When The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to step down from their royal duties, this meant all charity and military affiliations for Prince Harry, including his Captain Generalship of the Royal Marines.
This was a position he took over from The Duke of Edinburgh in December 2017, after Philip took his royal retirement. The Duke held the position for 64 years.
In that time, Harry has attended a number of engagements in this capacity, including visiting marines training in Norway.
The Sunday Times is now reporting that it is Princess Anne who is tipped to take on the position, and become the first female Captain General of the Royal Marines. It is, the article says, Prince Philip’s wish for his daughter to do so.
Title of Captain General was introduced in 1948, by George VI, and is the ceremonial head of the amphibious naval group. Prior to this, the incumbent was known as the Colonel in Chief.
According to statistics released each year, The Princess Royal, who turns 70 in August, is always one of the busiest members of the Royal Family each year, so this would simply mean a few more engagements for The Queen’s daughter.
Anne also has a number of other senior military appointments, including Admiral and Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy, Commodore-in-Chief of HMNB Portsmouth, and Colonel of the Blues and Royals.
Princess Anne is Admiral and Chief Commandant of women in the Royal Navy – will she take on the Royal Marines’ Captain General role too? (Joe Lane)
Prince Harry is expected to return to the UK next month for a farewell engagement with the Royal Marines, and we expect to see his aunt, The Princess Royal in attendance too.
