Prince Philip’s last solo public engagement – when is the Royal Marines parade and what happens after he retires?
PRINCE Philip is retiring from all public royal duties at the age of 96, bowing out at parade at Buckingham Palace.
News the Duke of Edinburgh was stepping down was announced in a meeting at Buckingham Palace earlier this year. But what does this mean and when does he officially retire?
When is Prince Philip's last solo public engagement?
The long-serving royal is stepping back from a public role after 65 years of Royal duties.
His final solo engagement is The Captain General's Parade on August 2 when he will salute the Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace.
He will meet veterans and cadets and a group of hero commandos who have run 1,664 miles over the past 100 days to raise money for The Royal Marines Charity.
They have been doing 16.64miles a day in tribute to the year the Royal Navy’s elite infantry force was founded.
The Duke is the Captain General of the Royal Marines, a position he has held since 1953.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “The parade will bring His Royal Highness’s individual programme to a conclusion, although he may choose to attend certain events alongside The Queen from time to time.
“The parade will conclude with a march-past, a royal salute and three cheers for the Captain General.”
Prince Philip - who turned 96 in June - attended 110 days of engagements in 2016.
Since 1952 he has attended 22,219 solo engagements and 637 overseas tours in a career marked by his famous gaffes.
What will Prince Philip do when he is retired?
Prince Philip will no longer accept new invitations for engagements, but may still make an appearance at public events from time to time.
With his retirement, Prince Charles, 68, and Prince William, 35, will instead be by the Queen’s side at public events.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have both relinquished a number of royal duties in recent years.
Philip broke formal ties with some of his patronages when he turned 90 in 2011.
But he is still a patron, president or a member of over 780 organisations and will continue to be associated with them although he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements.
What did Buckingham Palace say about Prince Philip's retirement?
In May a statement from Buckingham palace said: “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, The Duke has the full support of The Queen.
“Prince Philip will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August, both individually and accompanying The Queen.
“Thereafter, The Duke will not be accepting new invitations for visits and engagements, although he may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time.”
