Senior officers to counsel Prince

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 1

Senior officers to counsel Prince

NZPA-PA London Prince Edward is to continue counselling with senior Royal Marines officers after the disclosure that he is on the verge of quitting the elite unit. The Prince returned to the marines’ training base at Lympstone, Devon, on Wednesday and left again by car followed by his private detective. A police officer at the camp gate said the Prince would be back later but yesterday spokesmen at the base and the Ministry of Defence were refusing to say whether he had returned. The Prince’s return to the base came after a report in “The Sun” newspaper said he was considering quitting the corps because he found the training too tough. The “counselling process” with senior officers will determine whether the Queen’s youngest son, will go ahead with his reported decision to quit

the corps. He will then face the problem of finding another suitable role. Other branches of the Armed Forces would be open to the Prince, aged 22, and, as fifth in line to the throne, he would have a wider choice of career than his elder brothers. The Prince, who joined the marines with high

hopes of making a career, is said to be bitterly disappointed at the way things have turned out. At Lympstone a Royal Marines spokesman said “We have no comment to make whatsoever.” But privately several marines expressed shock and surprise that Prince Edward was considering his future, saying he had performed well since joining in September. He had proved his physical fitness during several previous stints at the Lympstone base and it is believed his doubts have arisen from his mental attitude to life in the corps.

Prince Edward had been due to return from the Christmas break on Monday but “The Sun” report claimed Buckingham Palace officials told officers he was suffering from flu. It is not known how long the “counselling process” between the Prince and senior officers will last.