Ceremonial head of the Royal Marines
The Captain General Royal Marines is the ceremonial head of the Royal Marines. The uniform and insignia worn by the Captain General are those of a Royal Marines Colonel or higher depending on the appointee's current or previously held rank. This position is distinct from that of the Commandant General Royal Marines, the professional head (who is ranked as a Lieutenant General).[1] The Captain General is appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom.
History
The ceremonial head of the Royal Marines was the Colonel in Chief until the title changed to Captain General in 1948.[2] As Captain General Royal Marines, Prince Harry was entitled to wear the rank insignia of a Field Marshal[3] or Major General.[4] Despite this, Prince Harry, at least on some occasions, wore the rank insignia of a Colonel,[5][6] which is traditionally worn by some Colonels-in-chief in the British Army.[7]
Post holders
The post has been held by the following:
| No.
|
Portrait
|
Name
(Born–died)
|
Title
|
Term of office
|
Ref.
|
| Took office
|
Left office
|
Time in office
|
| 1 |
|
King George V
(1865–1936) |
Colonel-in-Chief |
1 January 1901 (1901-01-01) |
20 January 1936 (1936-01-20) |
35 years, 19 days |
[8]
|
| 2 |
|
King Edward VIII
(1894–1972) |
23 March 1936 (1936-03-23) |
11 December 1936 (1936-12-11) |
263 days |
[9]
|
| 3 |
|
King George VI
(1895–1952) |
11 December 1936 (1936-12-11) |
8 October 1948 (1948-10-08) |
15 years, 57 days |
[10]
|
| Captain General |
8 October 1948 (1948-10-08) |
6 February 1952 (1952-02-06) |
[11]
|
| 4 |
|
The Duke of Edinburgh
(1921–2021) |
1 June 1953 (1953-06-01) |
19 December 2017 (2017-12-19) |
64 years, 201 days |
[12][13]
|
| 5 |
|
The Duke of Sussex
(born 1984) |
19 December 2017 (2017-12-19) |
19 February 2021[Note 1] |
3 years, 62 days |
[19][20]
|
Corps of Royal Marines
