Duke of Kent, 88, attends his last event as Colonel of the Scots Guard before failed marine Prince Edward takes on role – and says it’s been a ‘true honour which will forever fill me with great joy’
The Duke of Kent has today attended the Scots Guards Black Sunday, marking his last official engagement as Colonel of the Scots Guard.
The late Queen’s cousin, 88, was pictured at the remembrance event in London after it was announced he would step down in favour of King Charles’s brother, Prince Edward.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 60 – who famously quit the Royal Marines after just four months – will today be named as the new Colonel after being chosen by the King.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks this morning, the Duke of Kent – who served as Colonel for 50 years – said the role had been ‘a true honour’.
He said: ‘Serving as Colonel of the Scots Guards since 1974, the longest anyone has spent in this role, has been a true honour and one which will forever fill me with great joy.
The Duke of Kent has today attended the Scots Guards Black Sunday ceremony in London
The late Queen’s cousin, 88, attended the remembrance event – marking his last official engagement as Colonel of the Scots Guard (pictured: The Duke greets a King’s guard)
‘Through those years, I have seen the work of the Scots Guards during peacetime and war,’ his statement, shared on The Royal Family’s Instagram account today, added.
The post included several images showcasing 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 blue suit, a striped red and blue tie and a blue checked shirt.
He teamed the outfit with a pair of black leather loafers, while he pinned a variety of medals representing 50 years in service to his blazer.
With a walking cane in his right hand, he appeared in high spirits as he made his way to greet a King’s guard.
The Duke – who also goes by Prince Edward – paid tribute to the ‘bravery, selfless courage and devotion to duty’ of the Scots Guards ahead of relinquishing his position.
He added: ‘To my fellow Scots Guardsmen, I am immensely proud to have served you all. I am delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will continue to champion all that you do and work towards preserving your great legacy’.
The Duke of Edinburgh is now set to head the elite infantry regiment that fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
The Duke of Kent is pictured with Queen Elizabeth ll before her death
The Duke has stepped down in favour of King Charles’s brother, Prince Edward
The Duke of Edinburgh , 60 – who famously quit the Royal Marines after just four months – will today be named as the new Colonel after being chosen by the King (pictured: Prince Edward ahead of the Service of Dedication for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Stirling Castle, in Leith on Thursday)
The Duke of Kent – who served as Colonel for 50 years – said the role had been ‘a true honour’
Speaking on the new appointment he said it was a ‘distinct honour’, while also praising the former Colonel for ‘extraordinary’ service.
He said: ‘The Duke of Kent has been an extraordinary Colonel of the Scots Guards. Quite apart from his depth of knowledge and keen understanding of the Regiment and all those who serve, past and present, he has been a tireless and passionate advocate.
‘It is a distinct honour to be asked and entrusted by His Majesty to serve as the next Colonel. However, I accept with a degree of trepidation as I will undoubtedly be measured against the formidable record and reputation of my predecessor. I can only promise to do my best’.
For years, the Prince was kept away from military patronages after leaving his Royal Marines training course in 1987.
The Queen was reportedly livid when he swapped military service for the performing arts.
Although defence sources say Edward is qualified for this promotion, some observers believe it is a result of the increasingly slimmed-down monarchy.
He pinned a variety of medals representing 50 years in service to his blazer
With a walking cane in his right hand, the Duke appeared to be in high spirits
For the ceremony, he donned a navy blue suit, a striped red and blue tie and a blue checked shirt
Edward attended the Scots Guards Black Sunday at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks, London
He has been taking on a growing number of senior roles, especially after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles in 2022.
The 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 the five prestigious Regiments of Foot Guards within the British Army’s Household Division – alongside the Irish, Welsh, Grenadier and Coldstream Guards – who carry out ceremonial duties like taking part in major state events in support of the monarch.
The Guardsmen are also fighting soldiers who when not guarding the King or participating in Trooping the Colour are deployed on operations or training around the world.
Since the Scots Guards’ formation 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 undertaken deployments to Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Duke of Kent is pictured watching the march past outside the Royal Military Chapel (The Guards’ Chapel) in Westminster, London
Here, Edward is seen taking part in the Scots Guards’ Black Sunday Parade while flanked by the chapel’s priest and other officials
The Duke was first appointed Colonel of the Scots Guards in 1974, the longest anyone has spent in this role
A young boy in replica uniform joins members of the Scots Guards as they gather ahead of the Black Sunday Parade, at the chapel of the Guards Museum in 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 late Queen Elizabeth II (pictured in Melbourne, Australia in 2012)
The Duke served with the Armed Forces for more than 21 years, starting his career as a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Scots Greys 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 in Wellington Barracks with members of the Scots Guards, before taking the salute for the final time as Colonel of the regiment at 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 late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Duke’s mother was also a first cousin of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to King Charles.
