King Charles has shared humorous and heartfelt memories from his time in the Royal Navy, revealing how he once strove to avoid creating "yet another headline" for the tabloids while commanding a ship in treacherous conditions.
A Nostalgic Return to Dartmouth
The monarch delivered a speech at the Royal Britannia Naval College in Dartmouth on Friday, marking a return to the establishment where he trained over five decades ago. Addressing 191 cadets who had just completed their 29-week training, Charles spoke fondly of the rigorous preparation he received at the college from 16 September 1971 as a graduate entrant.
"I have so many memories of my time here," the King said, recalling navigating the River Dart in picket boats. He described it as a crash course in maritime rules, largely involving avoiding collisions with enthusiastic yacht owners.
Commanding Through the Storm
Charles revealed that this early training proved invaluable when, five years later, he took command of the Ton-class minehunter HMS Bronington, one of the Navy's last wooden-walled ships. He recounted a particularly tense moment trying to berth the vessel during a force nine gale.
"I desperately tried to avoid becoming yet another headline in the tabloid newspapers by running into the jetty," he told the assembled company of cadets, medical officers, and chaplains. The King reflected that such challenging episodes were "all character-building stuff, which has stood me in good stead ever since."
From Naval Pay to National Legacy
The King's naval career, which saw him qualify as a helicopter pilot in 1974 and join 845 Naval Air Squadron, concluded in February 1976. He revealed a poignant detail about his transition to civilian life: he used his £7,400 severance pay to establish what was then the Prince's Trust. That organisation, now known as the King's Trust, continues its mission to support disadvantaged young people across the UK.
A Modern Navy and Timeless Leadership
Looking to the future, King Charles praised the Royal Navy's rapid evolution in the face of new threats. "Embracing new technologies, evaluating systems made possible by AI, and proactively introducing uncrewed platforms where operations allow, the service is characteristically leading the way," he stated.
However, he emphasised that technology alone is not enough. "Vessels and equipment alone do not deliver success – people do. Your role is to lead those people: to inspire and to create the conditions for excellence, in peace and war." He concluded by telling the new officers, "This country is lucky to have you."
A Surreal Moment for a Midshipman
Among those inspected by the King was Midshipman Denholm Coxhill, who described the experience as "surreal." After the formalities, they shared a light-hearted exchange about pop music. "He ended up asking me, 'So you survived OK?'," Coxhill recounted. "I said, 'To quote Elton John, I'm still standing', so I don't think he'll forget that one and I'm not going to forget it."
Coxhill added that standing before his family filled him with immense pride, marking the culmination of his demanding training.
