King Charles holds emotional private reunion with former Royal Navy mates at Buckingham Palace

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The King has held an emotional private reunion for 'old shipmates' from his time serving in the Royal Navy at Buckingham Palace - even sharing a few 'salty tales'.

Charles, 76, paid for the event privately to bring together some of those he served with as a young man, as well as representatives from associated naval organisations.

Then a dashing young Prince of Wales, he embarked on a career in the Royal Navy in 1971 at the age of just 22, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and both great-grandfathers.

Charles was an acting sub-lieutenant when he joined an 'accelerated graduates' course at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth on 15 September.

Two months later he was posted to the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk, and then to the frigates HMS Minerva and HMS Jupiter.

During 1972 he experienced life at sea during the Cold War on HMS Dolphin, sailing with hunter-killer HMS Churchill, studying navigation at HMS Mercury and minehunter HMS Glasserton.

His career took a step up when he became a gunnery officer on HMS Minerva on West Indies patrol, before being transferred for a brief time to her sister ship HMS Jupiter in the Pacific before returning to England to learn naval aviation.

In 1974, the future King qualified as a helicopter pilot, and he flew with 845 Naval Air Squadron from the commando aircraft carrier HMS Hermes.

The King has held an emotional private reunion for 'old shipmates' from his time serving in the Royal Navy at Buckingham Palace - even sharing a few 'salty tales'. Pictured on VE Day in March 2025

Charles, 76, paid for the event privately to bring together some of those he served with as a young man, as well as representatives from associated naval organisations. The King pictured wearing Royal Navy captain's uniform on his 40th birthday 1986

He took on his final post with the Navy in February 1976, becoming the Commanding Officer of minesweeper HMS Bronington.

Over the next 10 months, he commanded the small vessel during exercises and on operations where he dealt with Second World War ordnance - and even had to closely monitor a Soviet submarine.

His active naval career came to an end in December of that year with the rank of commander - but Bronington remained close to his heart and in 1980 he attended the ceremony when the ship was recommissioned.

Charles was popular among his comrades, with contemporaries describing him as easy to teach and having a strong sense of duty.

On his retirement from service in 1976 used his naval pension to set up what was the Prince's Trust - now the King's Trust - to help disadvantaged young people, which has grown to become one of the biggest youth opportunity charities in the country.

Buckingham Palace said today's reception saw the King greet 400 guests, many of whom were previous shipmates and their partners with whom he had kept in touch over the last half century, as well as fellow aviators drawn from 845 Naval Air Squadron and across the Fleet Air Arm.

There was also a contingent of from H.M.Y. Britannia and representatives from the King's patronages The White Ensign Association, The Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785, The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and the Association of Royal Naval Officers.

An aide said the event was a 'personal request' from the King and was funded by him privately.

Then a dashing young Prince of Wales, he embarked on a career in the Royal Navy in 1971 at the age of just 22, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and both great-grandfathers. Pictured in a Royal Navy Wessex helicopter in 1974

In 1974, the future King qualified as a helicopter pilot, and he flew with 845 Naval Air Squadron from the commando aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. Pictured with his instructor, Lieutenant Commander Alan McGregor in 1974

Charles was an acting sub-lieutenant when he joined an 'accelerated graduates' course at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth on 15 September 1971. Pictured in 1974

Charles was popular among his comrades, with contemporaries describing him as easy to teach and having a strong sense of duty. Pictured on the minesweeper HMS Bronington in 1976

They added: 'His Majesty was greatly looking forward to seeing his old shipmates and no doubt sharing a few salty tales on the trip down memory sea-lane.

'He is most grateful for their continued loyalty, laughter and support over the decades, and looked forward to hearing where life's journeys had taken them all.

'As we approach the 50th Anniversary of The King's Trust, which was initially funded with His Majesty's £7,400 severance pay from the Navy, it was a timely opportunity to reflect on what great things have sprung from those formative years – including lifelong friendships and a continued commitment to public service.'

It comes after the King has praised a 101-year-old veteran as 'amazing' and told him to keep drinking whisky during a visit to Lancashire on Monday.

Charles met Richard Brock, who served in the D-Day landings, at the Ceremony of the Keys at Lancaster Castle on Monday and remembered him from a visit to Normandy last year.

After asking Richard's age, the King said: 'You are fantastic,' before cheekily adding 'keep drinking the whisky' as he left.

Richard, who served with the East Lancashire Regiment, said: 'He just told me I was amazing for my age.'

His son Tony Brock, who attended the reception with him, said: 'He mentioned a nip of whisky and said to keep taking it.'

An aide said the event was a 'personal request' from the King and was funded by him privately. Pictured during a visit to the Royal Naval Armaments Depot in September 2024

Buckingham Palace said today's reception saw the King greet 400 guests, many of whom were previous shipmates and their partners with whom he had kept in touch over the last half century. Pictured on board a Royal Navy Frigate, Jupiter in 1974

During 1972 he experienced life at sea during the Cold War on HMS Dolphin, sailing with hunter-killer HMS Churchill, studying navigation at HMS Mercury and minehunter HMS Glasserton. Pictured during 'familiarisation' training in 1974 at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines

Charles was dressed in a dove grey suit with a cherry-toned patterned tie and a matching kerchief in his breast pocket. 

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King Charles gives 101-year-old veteran some cheeky life advice on visit to Lancaster Castle

Among those keen to see the King were friends Joan Hardcastle, 103, and Barbara Graham, 93, who had come with staff and two other residents from Laurel Bank Care Home.

Joan held a framed photograph of Charles presenting her with her MBE for voluntary services 40 years ago.

She said: 'I've seen him several times since. He was fine when I met him, very chatty.'

Care home manager Lyndsay Scott said: 'It was Barbara's idea to come. We got here at 9am, we had flasks of tea and croissants.'

Charles took part in a Ceremony of Keys outside the castle, a tradition which dates back to 1851 when the keys were presented to Queen Victoria and which Queen Elizabeth II participated in in 2015.

Once inside the grounds of the castle, which was a prison until 2011, the King met local business owners who were showcasing their work.

He expressed his love of cheese, telling Gillian Hale, of Butlers' Farmhouse Cheeses, that he loved sheep's cheese on a digestive biscuit.

He smelled some of the cheeses she had on display but did not taste any.

She said: 'We're going to send some to him later in a goody bag. He was so gracious.'

The King was also gifted a neck tie and some gloves for the Queen from Northern Yarn.