Edward tells new Gurkhas they are ‘soldiers in British army but sons of Nepal’

The Duke of Edinburgh told caller Gurkha recruits to beryllium arrogant of being a “soldier successful the British service but a lad of Nepal” arsenic helium attended their attestation ceremony.

Edward and his woman Sophie met the 2 per cent of young Nepalis who passed the gruelling and highly competitory enactment process to go portion of the elite Brigade of Gurkhas.

The royal mates were connected the 4th time of their authoritative circuit of the Himalayan federation to observe its ties to the United Kingdom.

You volition beryllium surviving and serving a agelong mode from home, which makes your determination adjacent much impressive, and again, connected behalf of King Charles and each the British people, we truly bash convey you and respect your decision

Duke of Edinburgh

The duke and duchess looked connected arsenic the 274 recruits – selected from much than 13,000 applicants – took the oath of allegiance, saluting a representation of the King and touching the Union flag.

In a code astatine the Gurkha basal successful Pokhara, Edward said: “Thank you for choosing to service successful the Brigade of Gurkhas successful the British Army, and convey you for swearing allegiance to His Majesty today.

“You are joining a regimental household with beardown traditions and a estimation for loyalty, work and courage.

“Gurkhas person served the crown for implicit 209 years. This present becomes your practice and your work to uphold.

“Selection, I know, has been hard and the contention precise intense, but you person met the precise highest standards to service arsenic a Gurkha and I americium impressed that of the 13,000 aspiring recruits, you person made it.”

He told the recruits, who volition commencement flying to Catterick Garrison, successful North Yorkshire, from Monday: “You volition beryllium surviving and serving a agelong mode from home, which makes your determination adjacent much impressive, and again, connected behalf of King Charles and each the British people, we truly bash convey you and respect your decision.

“Finally, ever remember, you are a worker successful the British army, but you are a lad of Nepal. Be arrogant of both.”

After the ceremony, the duke spoke with immoderate of the young recruits and their affectional families, proceeding that 1 household had travelled 18 hours to beryllium there, and telling another: “You indispensable beryllium feeling precise arrogant arsenic well. He’s done precise good to bash this.”

Earlier, Edward and Sophie presented 38 Coronation Medals and 2 agelong work and bully behaviour medals to Gurkha unit connected parade.

They past inspected the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, who played 2 songs by Lady Gaga arsenic the duke and duchess inspected the ranks of caller recruits, congratulating them arsenic they went.

The mates listened from a dais arsenic Buddhist and Hindu prayers were fixed earlier the attestation oath.