The 88-year-old royal was appointed to the position in 1974, after nearly two decades of military service.
The 88-year-old royal paid tribute to the Guardsmen’s ‘bravery, selfless courage and devotion to duty’
The 88-year-old member or the royal family – who officially relinquished the title after the event concluded on Sunday afternoon – had earlier paid tribute to the “bravery, selfless courage and devotion to duty” of the Scots Guards.The duke, who was a cousin of the late Queen, attended a morning service at the Guards Chapel in central London to begin Black Sunday, the regiment’s annual day of remembrance for its fallen servicemen and their families.
The Scots Guards are one of the five Regiments of Foot Guards within the British Army’s Household Division – alongside the Irish, Welsh, Grenadier and Coldstream Guards – who carry out ceremonial duties such as taking part in major state events in support of the monarch. Afterwards, he took the salute as Guardsmen and veterans marched past him to a performance of The Colonel, a new composition by Pipe Major John Mitchell written as a tribute to the former colonel.Back in barracks, the duke informally met soldiers and their families, and was presented with a framed pipe banner.
“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.”As the duke departed, his route was lined with serving Guardsmen from various companies, the regiment’s band and association veterans who cheered loudly and applauded to a performance of the Scots Guards’ regimental march Highland Laddie.
He added that the duke was an “important part” of the “regimental mental system” which was based in a “long history of tradition, ethos culture”.Formed as King Charles I’s personal bodyguard in 1642, the regiment has since 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.
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