Countess of Wessex attends final passing out parade of the year at BRNC Dartmouth

The Countess of Wessex praised 170 future naval leaders at the most prestigious passing out parade of the year at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) Dartmouth.

Representing the King at Lord High Admiral's Divisions, the Countess took the salute as 123 Royal Navy cadets, 30 officers from international navies and 17 cadets from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary completed months of intensive training at the Devon establishment.

In her first visit to BRNC Dartmouth, Sophie said: "This is a big moment in your lives – the moment when you become serving officers in His Majesty's Navy, the moment when you leave all the hard training behind you and take up the mantle of responsibility.

• Life-changing moment for officer cadets passing out of Britannia Royal Naval College 
• How the Queen and Prince Philip's relationship began after 'quirk of fate' meeting at naval college 
• Get this party started: How the Royal Navy's first female admiral kick-starts the day to a dance floor banger

"Until now you have been looking to others to guide you and show you the way. From now on, it is you who will be leading others. Leading – and leading well – takes skill. Officers who stand out are those who put the men and women with whom they serve first and in doing so seem to foster bonds of loyalty, credibility and respect.

"A new generation of naval officers is born today. I hope you will be proud of what you have achieved and what you will go on to achieve."

The parade is the most prestigious in BRNC Dartmouth's calendar and takes its name from the historic title of Lord High Admiral, typically the ruling monarch – although it was held by the Duke of Edinburgh from his 90th birthday until his death in 2021.

The Countess of Wessex was joined for the parade by the head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key and BRNC Dartmouth's Commanding Officer, Captain Sarah Oakley.