The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spending their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple apart as Prince Harry met with British armed forces in the Arctic Circle.
Harry is thousands of miles away from Kensington Palace in northern Norway where British armed forces are taking part in winter survival training in one of the planet’s harshest climates.
He was experiencing the country’s icy wilds when he meets British servicemen undergoing the gruelling Exercise Clockwork during a tour of their base.
The duke, who is due to become a father for the first time when his wife Meghan gives birth later this year, arrived with temperatures around freezing point for his visit to the Bardufoss air station, some 200 miles (322km) within the Arctic Circle.
Harry's trip marks the 50th anniversary of Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying to the remote base, where military personnel are taught how to survive, operate and fight in the sub-zero conditions, as well as gaining experience of operating aircraft in severe cold weather and mountainous environments.
The multinational exercise, hosted by the Norwegian Armed Forces, comprises environmental flying qualifications, cold weather survival, and snow and ice driving courses.
The duke, in his role as Captain General Royal Marines, was meeting military personnel living and training at the base.
Harry was also seeing field tents, snow vehicles and a Quincey Shelter, a makeshift shelter built of snow in which the elite forces are able to camp.
Harry was appointed Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017, taking over the role from his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, who held the appointment for 64 years.
The duke already has experience of colder climates, facing temperatures as low as -35C on charity expeditions.
Harry took part in treks to the North Pole in 2011 and South Pole in 2013 with Walking With The Wounded.
Lieutenant Colonel David West, officer commanding Exercise Clockwork, said: "We are celebrating 50 years of Exercise Clockwork today and are honoured to be able to welcome the Captain General of the Royal Marines to Bardufoss to mark the occasion.
"Harry is used to rigours of harsh climates and so will fully understand the dangers of trying to live and operate in such an extreme environment.
"Clockwork continues to deliver vital training for our people.
"It provides essential experience in flying and surviving in the extreme cold hundreds of miles inside the Arctic Circle.
"For 50 years Commando Helicopter Force and its predecessors have operated in this region and the skills learnt here are more relevant than ever."
