‘Prince Philip was a true gentleman’: Royal fans pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh on the fifth anniversary of his final royal engagement before retirement after clip emerges online

• Duke of Edinburgh, who died last year, retired from duties on August 2, 2017
• A clip of his final event has gone viral after it was posted on social media
• Royal fans paid tribute to Prince Philip, saying he was ‘a true gentleman’ 

Royal fans paid tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh on the fifth anniversary of his final official engagement before retiring from public life. 

Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, made his last public solo appearance on August 2, 2017, at a Royal Marine parade in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. 

As a former Royal Navy officer, the event held particular personal significance to the Queen’s Consort, who retired after carrying out 22,219 solo engagements since 1952.

A video of the event has gone viral on Twitter. Standing on a platform in the middle of a downpour, Prince Philip removes his bowler hat as the Royal Marine’s march past and salute.

Royal fans paid tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh on the fifth anniversary of his final official engagement before retiring from public life. Pictured, Philip at the Captain General’s Parade

Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, made his last public solo appearance on August 2, 2017, at a Royal Marine parade in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, pictured

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, shared a clip on Twitter with the caption: ‘Five years ago this afternoon I was part of an increasingly bedraggled group of royal correspondents and photographers on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace to witness the 96-year-old Duke of Edinburgh’s final official engagement. 

‘The heavy rain bothered him not a jot. #legend.’

Followers reflected on the Duke of Edinburgh’s lasting legacy, with one tweeting: ‘They don’t make them like that anymore.’

Another posted: ‘Think a frail 96 year old could of had a more comfortable time. Yet there he stood. Legend.’

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, shared a clip on Twitter and the post was met with an outpouring of support from royal fans 

A third added: ‘What a wonderful man he was!’

The Captain’s General Parade marked the end of the 1664 Global Challenge, which recognises 1664, the year the Royal Marines were founded, and has seen marines push themselves to the limit with a series of physical exploits in aid of the Royal Marines Charity.

The Duke, at the time the Captain General of the Royal Marines, met Corporal Will Gingell and Corporal Jamie Thompson who had run 1,664 miles over 100 days.

He also chatted to Sergeant Matt Burley, a physical training instructor, who swam 1,664 lengths underwater over 10 days and Lieutenant Colonel Aldeiy Alderson, who ran 100 kilometres in 12 hours wearing his Royal Marines uniform and polished boots. 

Looking at the group of marines he made them laugh with the quip: ‘You all should be locked up.’

The Queen’s Consort announced in May 2017 he would be retiring from royal engagements, a decision which was fully supported by the Queen.

He continued to appear alongside the Queen at a handful of high profile events in the year before his death. 

The Queen, now 96, continues her official engagements although she has stepped back from some royal duties and pass the baton to other members of her family.

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