Prince Charles pays tribute to Prince Philip during naval graduation ceremony

The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his late father, Prince Philip, during a speech at a naval graduation ceremony.

Presiding over the passing out parade of the Lord High Admiral's Divisions at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Prince Charles told graduates why it's such a special place for the British royal family.

"My father, as lord high admiral himself, was extremely proud of his links to this college," Prince Charles said on Thursday.

"And it was here that my mother and father first met in the captain's garden, while my grandfather, King George VI, carried out the inspection of your predecessors."

The future king and his brother Prince Andrew also attended the college.

The Duke of Edinburgh was appointed admiral of the fleet in 1953 and later conferred the title and office of lord high admiral by the Queen on his 90th birthday in 2011.

Prince Philip had a long and decorated naval career, holding on to his role as captain general of the Royal Marines until he retired from public life in 2017.

Prince Charles, who is now Admiral of the Fleet, inspected cadets from the Lord High Admiral's Divisions at Britannia Royal Naval College, also known simply as Dartmouth.

As the 73-year-old presided over the ceremony — the first since Prince Philip's death — he stood in the centre and saluted the Navy, flanked by college commander Captain Roger Readwin to his right and Commander Will Peters, the parade commander, to his left.

Following his speech, the royal met members of the divisions and appeared to dodge a selfie along the way, before presenting prizes to nine graduating officer cadets.