Cadets from Waltham Forest visited Buckingham Palace to take part in Prince Philip’s final public engagement.

Teenagers from the borough’s detachment of the Royal Marines Cadets were invited to the high-profile event at the palace yesterday (Wednesday, August 2).

The parade marked the end of the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge, a 100-day, 1,664-mile run in aid of the Royal Marines Charity.

The cadets joined other detachments from Hornchurch and Upminster, and Haringey to march from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Edinburgh is Captain General of the Royal Marines, and the event was his last official engagement, as he retires from public life after more than six decades of service.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

The event was the Duke's last before his retirement (pic: PA Wire/ Yui Mok)

Lieutenant Bill Collier, Sea Cadets’ senior events officer, said: “This was a great opportunity for cadets to acknowledge all the Captain General has done for the Royal Marines.

“It is an honour and a privilege to have been invited to Buckingham Palace for the Duke’s final public engagement, and one that I’m sure our cadets will remember for many years to come.

“As a charity that has a long-standing association with the Duke – from cadets attending St James’s Palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to him visiting our units over the years.

“We would like to wish him all the very best for his retirement.”

The Duke, now 96, became Captain General of the Royal Marines in 1953, replacing King George VI after his death. Buckingham Palace announced in May he would be giving up his public duties.

Since his first engagement in 1952, the Queen's consort carried ouut more than 22,000 official public appearnaces over 65 years.

The Royal Marines Cadets, part of national youth charity Sea Cadets, offer youngsters between the ages of 13 and 18 opportunities to take part in waterborne activities and adventurous training.