To get back to Prince Philip here are a few dits that show why we in the Corps loved him as our Captain General for 64 years and illustrate our brand of humour:

On presenting the Military Medal to a Marine (this Marine was a shorty) for his action in Afghanistan, HRH said "did you shrink in Afghan?", the Marine replied "I was 6ft when I went but the kit you make me carry caused this." They both had a good laugh.

In Norway during Arctic Warfare training HRH visited 42 Cdo who were in defensive positions in the far North, it was a very cold day and the Duke was supposed to be flown by helicopter to a warm location where he was to have dinner with the NATO Generals. Instead he crawled into a snow-hole with 4 Marines who were cooking there ration pack dinner, got his mess tin out and said "come on give me a dollop of that good looking crap". He spent the entire evening in the snow-hole telling jokes and stories with the Marines missing the dinner which he said "would be boring anyway".

One of the best was when he presented a Long Service Medal to a very well known Colour Sergeant, they shook hands and HRH said "You know that hand touched up your Boss last night". The Colour Sergeant replied "I will never wash mine again Sir." There was a moment of silence and then the Commandant General of the Corps couldn't contain his laughter any longer and everyone broke into howls of laughter.

He was a Marines Marine and commanded great respect from us all, he always made time for everyone and after Mess Dinners would always thank the Chefs and Wait Staff.

Bruce
1964 4/4 Series V Comp (Megan)
1994 +8 (Maurice)
2013 M3W (Olga)