The King looked in great spirits on Friday as he returned to the Royal Marines training base where he completed his helicopter pilot training 50 years ago.
Charles, 76, arrived at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, near Exeter, Devon, to meet successful recruits and present special honours.
He attended the training centre 50 years ago, completing three days commando training there as part of his pilot training in 1974.
His Majesty was presented with a picture of himself tackling the high ropes at the training centre, while he watched recruits perform the same manoeuvre.
The King, who is Captain General of the Royal Marines, met his troops and presented the King’s Badge and a Green Beret to two trainees, Osian Stephens from Colwyn, North Wales and Joseph Ryan from Merseyside.
It was the first time a king has presented the badge since his grandfather, King George VI, in 1939. It is given to the recruit deemed the most impressive of those passing through training.
He also met 100-year-old D-Day veteran Norman Ashford, a coxswain on a landing craft who did numerous runs up Gold Beach.
Mr Ashford said: ‘It was a great honour to meet the King, I haven’t met royalty before and I just turned 100 on the 10th. It was a great pleasure to be back at the Commando Training Centre.’
The King appeared in great spirits today as he arrived at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone in Devon
He added that he spoke to the King about where he had landed on D-Day and said he hopes to go to Normandy to mark the commemoration again next year.
Addressing the recruits, he said: ‘As your Captain General, I can only express my pride in each and every one of you, together with my admiration for passing such a demanding course.
‘We are fortunate indeed to be able to rely on you, as well as on those families here today who so loyally support you.’
Marine Stephens, 20, was selected for the King’s Badge after completing his training despite previously picking up a serious injury.
After ten months recuperating, he resumed his training this autumn and completed his final five weeks to earn the badge.
‘This moment will stay with me forever. I know the last time a King presented the King’s Badge was back in 1939, it’s quite daunting to think that I will be only the second Royal Marine to enjoy that honour,’ he said.
‘Definitely the hardest part of my training was when I was injured, a real shock to pick up a leg injury after doing so well for so long. But with determination I took the knock, got back up again and got myself back to where I wanted to be.’
Marine Ryan triumphed after sustaining a lengthy shoulder injury late in training and spent five months recuperating and rehabilitating.
His Majesty also revisited some of the facilities where he trained as a helicopter pilot in 1974 (pictured)
King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales, during ‘familiarisation’ training in 1974 at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
King Charles takes the salute during a visit to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Marine Ryan, 20, received the Commando Medal for epitomising the commando spirit and ethos through his conversion from civilian to Royal Marine.
To acknowledge that achievement, he was singled out to receive his green beret, the Commandos’ headgear, from the King.
‘Being presented my green beret by the King is amazing, honestly the biggest honour I could ever have. I’m very aware that no-one in the Royal Marines has had their beret presented by the monarch, I’m so proud. It is a great honour,’ said Marine Ryan.
‘The lads in the troop have been brilliant, a really great bunch of guys, we’ve been through so much in the past few weeks together.’
It comes after the King celebrated turning 76 on Thursday by opening the first of his two new Coronation Food Hubs as the Royal Family wished him a happy birthday.
The monarch headed to Deptford in South London to formally unveil the first hub, tour the centre with London Mayor Sadiq Khan and attend a surplus food festival.
The King appeared in high spirits as he smiled and was given a kiss by a worker. Royal superfan John Loughrey stood with a card and bouquet of flower for Charles, who was accompanied by Sir Kenneth Olisa, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.
Pupils from Rye Oak Primary School in nearby Peckham led the singing of happy birthday for Charles, with six-year-old Zariah presenting the monarch with a card.
King Charles III, as Captain General Royal Marines, awards Marine Osian Stephens the King’s Badge
The King awards Marine Joseph Ryan, the Commando Medal during a visit to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales, in his flying overalls having landed his Wessex V Helicopter on the parade ground at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
King Charles III (fourth right), the then Prince of Wales, during ‘familiarisation’ training in 1974 at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Project chairwoman Dame Martina Milburn, Baroness Louise Casey and other representatives of the charities involved also met Charles. Volunteers from the Felix Project, who will run the Deptford hub, waved flags and cheers as the King arrived.
Thursday is the first anniversary of the launch of his Coronation Food Project which aims to bridge the gap between food need and food waste amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The King’s engagement was a solo one – with Queen Camilla, who had hoped to join him, still recovering from a nasty chest infection. He later virtually opened a second hub in Knowsley, Merseyside – with three more hubs due open in the year ahead.
Earlier in the day, the monarchy’s social media accounts posted a birthday message with a formal portrait of Charles in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace .
Prince William and Kate’s account shared an image of the relaxed-looking monarch wearing sunglasses and a garland during his royal tour to Samoa last month.
The photograph was taken as he opened The King’s Garden at a museum in Apia, and the message read: ‘Wishing a very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also tweeted a message, saying: ‘Sending His Majesty The King my very best wishes on his birthday today. Many happy returns.’
