Sandhurst: Boris Johnson Watches As Hundreds Of Officer Cadets Commissioned

Hundreds of officer cadets have been commissioned into the British Army at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst's Sovereign's Parade.

Marking the completion of 44 weeks of intensive training, all 243 officer cadets hold Her Majesty the Queen's Commission as of the stroke of midnight on Friday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson represented the Queen, inspecting the front rank of the parade.

Mr Johnson also made a congratulatory speech and presented prize winners with awards – including the Sword of Honour to the Officer Cadet who, in the opinion of the Commandant and staff, is the best of their intake.

After describing and joking about the challenges cadets may have faced, Mr Johnson said: "You can be forgiven for a tiny second if you have said to yourself – quietly – 'stuff this for a lark or a game of soldiers'."

Mr Johnson also said in his speech the UK is "wise enough and humble enough to understand that the aim of our amazing Armed Forces should never again be conquest".

He added that "the purpose of all our military professionalism should never be war, but peace and friendship".

Alongside the British personnel, there are 42 international cadets from 22 countries, including Ukraine, Sierra Leone and the US.