The King has announced he will be the next Captain General of the Royal Marines - an honorary military role that had been stripped from the Duke of Sussex. Harry's prestigious title was removed by the Queen after he quit as a senior working royal for financial and personal freedom and moved to America with wife Meghan and their family.
There had been speculation about which member of the royal family would be given the role, with the Princess Royal tipped for the position. In a message to mark the 358th anniversary of the founding of the Corps of Royal Marines, the King said he was "exceptionally proud" to be its ceremonial head, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather.
He said: "It is the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role of your Captain General. I am exceptionally proud to follow in the footsteps of so many members of my family over the last three-and-a-half centuries, all of whom held the role with a deep sense of admiration.
"The Royal Marines have a distinguished and unparalleled history, both on land and at sea. I draw immense inspiration from your courage, determination, self-discipline and a remarkable capacity to endure in the most extreme environments.
"I feel greatly honoured to become part of the Corps Family and very much look forward to meeting many of you in the near future. In the meantime, this comes with my heartfelt and special wishes for a very happy 358th birthday. Per Mare, Per Terram."
