Prince Philip, the 96-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, conducted his final solo public engagement on Wednesday, overseeing a military parade in the pouring rain that capped a lifetime of service. The Duke of Edinburgh, wearing a raincoat and bowler hat, met members of the Royal Marines and veterans - many younger than him - before taking the salute in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
Hundreds of well-wishers clutching umbrellas gathered outside the gates to cheer on the prince, who is famed for his salty and often politically incorrect sense of humour. The ceremony was the last of 22,219 solo public engagements conducted by the former naval officer since his wife ascended to the throne in 1952.
It marked the end of a charity challenge in which the marines ran 1,664 miles (2,678 kilometres) over 100 days to mark the founding of the commando force in 1664. Philip, who served with distinction during World War II, was made captain general of the corps in 1953, taking over from the queen's father king George VI.
It is one of more than 780 organisations of which he has been patron, president or a member. He has also carried out 637 visits abroad on his own and given almost 5,500 speeches. "He will be missed on the public stage," said William Cook, 89, whose grandson was one of the Royal Marines being honoured by the prince.
"But he's got a lot of young people coming up, I think he's set a wonderful example but they can't better it," he added alongside wife Ella, who had set up camp with picnic chairs outside the palace gates. The duke and the queen have been gradually reducing their duties in recent years, handing over to the younger royals, including heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his son Prince William.
Philip "may choose to attend engagements alongside the queen from time to time", a spokeswoman said, while stressing that the 91-year-old monarch was not retiring. "Her Majesty will continue to carry out a full programme of official engagements with the support of members of the royal family," the palace said earlier this year.
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