Army

Sovereign's Parade: British Army's newest commissioned officers pass out at Sandhurst

Watch: Sandhurst cadets pass out as commissioned officers after 44 weeks of intensive training

The final Sovereign's Parade of the year has seen 155 Sandhurst cadets pass out as commissioned officers in the British Army after 44 weeks of intensive training.

General Sir Tim Radford, a former Nato deputy supreme allied commander Europe, represented the King for the inspection parade at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and presented awards to the outstanding cadets from the intake.

The cadets will officially hold the King's commission at the stroke of midnight.

Also passing out were 25 international cadets from 19 countries, including the first officer cadet from Cambodia to commission from the prestigious Royal Military Academy in Berkshire.

Family and friends were in attendance for the parade, which finished with the Adjutant riding their horse up the steps of Old College following the graduating officer cadets through the Grand Entrance.

Watch: The stories behind a famous Sovereign's Parade tradition

The academy also live-streamed the ceremony online for those unable to attend in person.

With the commissioning coming in the holiday season, the band on parade added some festive cheer by performing some Christmas classics.

The Sovereign's Parade, which dates back to 1948, is held three times a year at RMA Sandhurst.

The ceremony marks the passing out of the Senior Divisions and their final parade.

Cadets are inspected by the sovereign or their representative, with the King last attending the event in April for what was the 200th Sovereign's Parade.

Related topics

Join Our Newsletter

WatchUsOn

US Marines head for the hills for drills⛰️

On board HMS Mersey⚓

Power & Pageantry: How Britain’s Armed Forces turn age-old ceremony into soft power