Grieving Prince Charles has thanked Army personnel personally for the role they played at Prince Philip's funeral, saying they would have made his father "proud".
In his first public engagement since the Duke of Edinburgh's death, Charles visited the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Combermere Barracks, Windsor, today and told them they had handled the funeral with "dignity and style".
In his role as Colonel of the Regiment, Prince Charles reportedly told them the Royal Family were deeply moved by the military’s role in the ceremony - adding that the soldiers on parade that day fulfilled his father's dying wishes for his funeral.
Philip died peacefully at Windsor Castle last month, aged 99.
Twenty men were picked to represent the regiment in the Windsor Castle quadrangle in honour of the duke, who had previously served as Colonel from 1953 until 1975, when his son took over.
Speaking in the grounds of the barracks, Charles told them: "I was so enormously proud of those of you who formed part of the complement during my father's funeral recently.
“If I may say so, what a wonderful credit not only to the Welsh Guards but also the Households Division and all those who were on parade, for what you all did."
Prince Charles became the Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 1975 after Philip passed the role on to him.
The Guards and the Royal Navy were among the military corps engaged in the private royal funeral, which Philip, a proud military man, had largely planned himself.
Some of the guards who took part in the funeral ceremony were at the barracks on Wednesday to hear the royal's personal message of thanks.
Charles arrived in a Tesla and stood outside the barracks to deliver his speech.
Speaking on behalf of the senior royals, he told the Welsh Guards: "My family and I were deeply moved by the way you all performed your duty.
"And people from other countries rang me up to say that they had never seen something so marvellous, so beautifully done and with such dignity and style."
He added: "I know my father would have been also enormously touched."
The day after the funeral, Charles left England for Wales for a private retreat, where he was said to be spending his time reflecting upon the loss of his father.
He spent a few days at his home in Llwynywermod, just outside the Brecon Beacons, following Philip's funeral last month.
The prince arrived at the barracks in his new electric Tesla car and was greeted by a Quarter Guard before being received by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher.
The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards are Light Role Infantry, and were amongst the first to help set up mobile Covid-19 test sites last year.
They are currently preparing for an operational tour to Iraq on Operation SHADER, the UK’s contribution to the US-led anti Daesh mission, and will also deploy to Africa as part of the MOD’s ongoing efforts to counter wildlife poaching operations.
They also carry out ceremonial duties and last year took part in the Queen’s socially-distanced birthday tribute at Windsor Castle.
Charles, 72, told Guardsman Trystan Phillips, 23, from Swansea, that he still remembered the silence that greeted him as he stepped out behind his father’s coffin.
He said: “In the quadrangle it was so quiet, you couldn’t hear anything.”
The heir shared some more light hearted moments with the soldiers as he chatted with others about their fitness and the strain of carrying kit.
“It’s alright when you are young…..it’s when you go past 30!” he joked.
