ROYAL MARINES 350TH FOUNDATION PARADE – NORTHERN IRELAND SEA CADETS JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS

On Tuesday, 8th. July 2014, 350 Royal Marines Cadets and 100 volunteers attended the RM350 Foundation Parade at Buckingham Palace, for cadets to celebrate the 350th. Royal Marines birthday! They were joined by Combined Cadet Forces and Volunteers of the Corps. Cadets had the privilege of marching down the Mall, led by the Royal Marines Bands of Portsmouth and Collingwood. Some 30 cadets from Northern Ireland were given the honour of taking part in this prestigious occasion.

The parade is the first time that the Royal Marines Cadets have been inspected by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who holds the title of Captain General Royal Marines. To add to the uniqueness of the event the guard at the Palace is made up of ranks from 42 Commando Royal Marines, as the Royal Marines take on Royal Guard duties for only the 4th time in their history. Also in attendance was the Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Honourable Phillip Hammond, and the Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Martin Smith MBE.