Prince Edward, who famously quit the Royal Marines after just four months, is set to head an elite infantry regiment that fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
He will become the Colonel of the Scots Guards in a ceremony in London today after being chosen by King Charles.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 60, is taking over from the Duke of Kent, 88, who was appointed in 1974 following a 21-year military career.
Edward said he was accepting the post ‘with a degree of trepidation’ about being compared to his predecessor.
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 has been taking on a growing number of senior roles, especially after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles in 2022.
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Natasha Livingstone
