William puts on Royal Navy uniform to see officer cadets pass out at Dartmouth
The Prince of Wales has put on his Royal Navy uniform to see more than 140 men and women from the UK and overseas pass out as officers at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.
Passing out was a mix of Royal Navy officer cadets, international cadets from Oman, Kuwait, Bangladesh and Trinidad & Tobago, new officers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – the Royal Navy's vital support flotilla – and 18 sailors commissioned from the ranks.
The cadets had undergone 29 weeks of intensive training to turn them from civilians into junior naval officers.
A "special place"
The trainees would have been tested in a variety of scenarios from in the classroom, on Dartmoor, the River Dart and at sea on board an operational warship.
Most will now go on to further training in their chosen branches of the Royal Navy.
Delivering a speech to the attendees, Prince William - who was wearing a Royal Navy uniform reportedly for the first time in 13 years - said: "Whilst my own passing out parade was at Sandhurst, Britannia Royal Naval College still holds a very special place in my heart.
"It is well known that my grandmother and grandfather met here while my great-grandfather King George VI was conducting these very duties."
The Prince of Wales himself underwent similar training in 2008. He completed a short, intensive training course at Britannia before deploying with the frigate HMS Iron Duke on anti-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean.
His father, King Charles III and grandfather, the late Prince Philip, also both passed through the college.
During the parade, Prince William took the Royal Salute and was invited to inspect the front rank of the guard and the Royal Marines Band of Plymouth, as well as the ranks of St Vincent, Howe and St George Divisions.
The Prince, like many members of the Royal Family, maintains close ties to the Armed Forces.
While his charitable efforts benefit the forces and veteran communities, the Prince of Wales also has seven-and-a-half years of full-time UK military service.
For cadets going on to serve in the Royal Navy, Prince Willaim said they were embarking upon "incredibly rewarding" careers in "a period of great expansion".
He concluded his address: "To the families and friends gathered here and watching online – thank you for your support and understanding to get these brilliant men and women this far, and even more so for the empathy, compromise, and dedication that will be required to give these Young Officers every chance of success in their careers.
"Finally to you, our newest Naval Officers, congratulations. I wish you every success as you embark on this incredible journey of duty and service to our Nation."
Captain Sarah Oakley, Britannia's Commanding Officer, said that all passing-out parades at Dartmouth were special, but Lord High Admiral's Divisions was "probably the most prestigious of the year".
She added: "Today is a historic day for BRNC as we host His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as our Guest of Honour at this year's Lord High Admiral’s Divisions. All the cadets passing out have reached a significant milestone in their naval career and now move on to the next stage of training and new roles across the Royal Navy.
"Whether this is their first step on their naval journey, or the culmination of many years of dedicated service, passing out of the college as a naval officer in front of friends and family is a testament to their hard work and commitment."
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