Harry ends military posts as part of 'Megxit'

The Duke of Sussex will no longer be Captain General of the Royal Marines Credit: Finnbarr Webster/PA

The Duke of Sussex fought in Afghanistan on the frontline, but is now severing his official ties to the military as talks about his future role conclude.

The move is part of a wider agreement reached at an historic meeting at the Queen's private Sandringham estate on Monday, where Prince Harry met with his grandmother, Prince Charles and Prince William for the first since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were "stepping down" as senior royals.

Harry spent 10 years in the forces, and once said how his experience in the Army would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Prince Harry sits in his position on a Spartan armoured vehicle in the Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan. Credit: John Stillwell/PA

Former First Sea Lord, Lord West expressed his regret over Harry stepping down from his military appointments.

“The whole situation is extremely sad and I think it is unfortunate, after his splendid service in the military, that he will now no longer be involved with the military in the UK,” he said.

When Harry left the Army in 2015, he vowed to always maintain his links with his fellow servicemen and women.

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In 2015 Harry said: "Luckily for me, I will continue to wear the uniform and mix with fellow servicemen and women for the rest of my life, helping where I can".

He took over from his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, as Captain General of the Royal Marines in 2017 – but now is stepping down after just two years and one month in the position.

Harry on his appointment as Captain General Royal Marines, after taking over from the Duke of Edinburgh. Credit: MoD/PA

Philip, who retired at the age of 96, spent more than 64 years in the role.

Harry will also no longer be Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.

Harry, in his role as Commodore-In-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, presents medals at Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire in 2011. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The Queen is head of the Armed Forces, and military appointments form part of official duties, meaning Harry could not continue them as he walks away from royal life.

He is continuing his work with the Invictus Games, the competition he set up for sick, injured and wounded servicemen and women.

Harry had always dreamed of a life in the Army – and his honorary military appointments will have been important to him.

As a child, his bedroom was filled with pictures of tanks and helicopters and in 1993, as an eight-year-old, he was clearly in his element when dressed up in a miniature combat suit and helmet to ride in a tank on a visit to Germany.

Harry rides in a light tank during a visit to the barracks of the Light Dragoons in Hannover, Germany. Credit: Martin Keene/PA

He joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005, and trained as an Army officer, then joined the Blues and Royals and went on to train to become a Troop Leader of an armoured reconnaissance unit.

A planned tour to Iraq was scrapped after it was found he was to be a target for insurgents, but two tours to Afghanistan followed including one as an Apache helicopter pilot.

It was the Army which offered Harry his first taste of life away from being a royal.

Harry in military dress with the Duke of Cambridge at a Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

He admitted after serving in Afghanistan for a second time in 2012 that he was more comfortable being Captain Wales than Prince Harry.

“I’ve always been like that. My father’s always trying to remind me about who I am and stuff like that,” he said. “But it’s very easy to forget about who I am when I am in the Army.”