The Duke of Kent attended the Scots Guards’ Black Sunday today, marking his final official engagement as Colonel of the Scots Guards.
The late Queen’s cousin, 88, was pictured at the memorial event in London after it was announced she would step down in favor of King Charles’ brother Prince Edward.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 60, who left the Royal Marines after just four months, will today be appointed as the new colonel after being chosen by the king.
Speaking before the ceremony at the Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks this morning, the Duke of Kent, who served as a colonel for 50 years, said the role had been “a real honour”.
He said: “Serving as a Colonel of the Scots Guards since 1974, the longest anyone has spent in this role, has been a true honor which will always fill me with great joy.”
The Duke of Kent attended the Scots Guards’ Black Sunday ceremony in London today
The late Queen’s cousin, 88, attended the memorial event, marking his last official engagement as a colonel in the Scots Guards (pictured: The Duke greets the King’s Guard).
“Throughout those years, I have seen the work of the Scots Guards during times of peace and war,” added his statement, shared today on the Royal Family’s Instagram account.
The post included several images showing the royal’s time in his role, including a photo of the prince with his late cousin, Queen Elizabeth II.
For today’s ceremony, he donned a navy suit, a red and blue striped tie, and a blue plaid shirt.
He paired the outfit with a pair of black leather loafers, while pinning an assortment of medals representing 50 years of service to his jacket.
With a staff in his right hand, he seemed in high spirits as he headed to greet the King’s guard.
The duke, who also goes by the name Prince Edward, paid tribute to the “bravery, selfless courage and devotion to duty” of the Scots Guards before resigning his commission.
He added: “To my fellow Scots Guardsmen, I am immensely proud to have served you all. I am delighted that HRH The Duke of Edinburgh continues to champion all that he does and work to preserve his great legacy.”
The Duke of Edinburgh will now lead the elite infantry regiment that fought at the Battle of Waterloo.
The Duke of Kent is pictured with Queen Elizabeth II before his death.
The duke has resigned in favor of King Charles’ brother, Prince Edward.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 60, who resigned from the Royal Marines after just four months, will today be appointed a new Colonel after being chosen by the King (pictured: Prince Edward in front of the Dedication Service for the Ship Auxiliary of the Royal Fleet. RFA Stirling Castle, Leith on Thursday)
Speaking about the new appointment, he said it was a “great honour”, while praising the former colonel for his “extraordinary” service.
He said: ‘The Duke of Kent has been an extraordinary colonel in the Scots Guards. Aside from his deep knowledge and deep understanding of the Regiment and all those who serve, past and present, he has been a tireless and passionate advocate.
‘It is a great honor that His Majesty asked and entrusted me to serve as the next colonel. However, I accept with some trepidation, as I will no doubt be compared to the formidable record and reputation of my predecessor. I can only promise that I will do my best.”
For years, the Prince stayed away from military patronage after abandoning his Royal Marines training course in 1987.
The Queen was reportedly furious when he swapped military service for the performing arts.
Although defense sources say Edward is qualified for this promotion, some observers believe it is the result of a thinning monarchy.
With a cane in his right hand, the Duke seemed to be in a very good mood.
For the ceremony he wore a navy blue suit, a red and blue striped tie and a blue plaid shirt.
The Duke was first appointed Colonel of the Scots Guards in 1974, the longest period anyone has spent in this role.
He has been taking on an increasing number of senior positions, especially after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles in 2022.
Scots Guards Black Sunday is the regiment’s annual day of remembrance for its fallen servicemen and their families.
The Scots Guards are one of five prestigious Infantry Guards Regiments within the Home Division of the British Army (along with the Irish, Welsh, Grenadier and Coldstream Guards) which carry out ceremonial duties such as taking part in major state events in support of the monarch.
The Guards are also combat soldiers who, when not protecting the King or participating in Trooping the Color, are deployed on operations or training around the world.
Since the formation of the Scots Guards in 1642, the regiment has played key roles in major conflicts around the world, from the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, both World Wars, the Falklands War and deployments to Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq.
A boy in a replica uniform joins members of the Scots Guards as they gather before the Black Sunday Parade, in the chapel of the Guards Museum at Wellington Barracks.
The Duke of Kent is the son of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. He is also the first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II (pictured in Melbourne, Australia, in 2012).
The Duke served in the Armed Forces for more than 21 years, beginning his career as a second lieutenant with the Royal Scots Grays and retiring in 1976 as a lieutenant-colonel.
In 1993, he was promoted to field marshal, the highest rank in the British Army.
Today he joined a Service of Remembrance at the Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks with members of the Scots Guards, before taking the salute for the last time as the regiment’s Colonel on a Scots Guards parade.
The Duke of Kent is the son of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. He is also the first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The duke’s mother was also a first cousin of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, making him a second cousin and first cousin once he was transferred to King Charles.