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HRH Prince Harry attends Mountbatten Festival of Music

MFM 2018
12 March 2018
His Royal Highness Prince Harry attended the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening to witness the Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines take centre stage for the Mountbatten Festival of Music 2018.

MFM 2018This was his first official outing as Captain General Royal Marines after succeeding the role from the Duke of Edinburgh in December last year.

The show which is produced, directed and performed by military musicians from the Royal Marines, champions the role of the Senior Service and helps to raise funds and awareness of The Royal Marines Charity.

Principal Director of Music Royal Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Ridley said: "I am immensely proud to be performing alongside the outstanding men and women of the Royal Marines Band Service. 

"They are, in my opinion, the best military musicians in the world and I believe that the thousands of people who have enjoyed the Mountbatten Festival of Music, both here at the Royal Albert Hall and via our LiveStream, will agree. 

"As their new Principal Director of Music it falls to me to lead an organisation with a world-class reputation and I truly believe that the Mountbatten Festival of Music, now in its 46th year, has surpassed all expectations."

One of the longest running shows in the Royal Albert Hall diary, this edition commemorated the raid on Zeebrugge 100 years ago, the award of the King's Badge to the Royal Marines and The Armistice of 1918.

As well as the honour of Prince Harry's attendance, the Head of the Royal Navy - the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB was also present.

I am immensely proud to be performing alongside the outstanding men and women of the Royal Marines Band Service

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Ridley, Royal Marines Principal Director of Music

Prince Harry assumed the role on the retirement of his Grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh in a ceremony with Her Majesty the Queen. This attendance at the Mountbatten Festival of Music was the Prince's first public engagement as the ceremonial head of the Royal Marines.

The concert displayed the outstanding versatility of some of the world's finest military musicians with the audience given the full 'West End' treatment with spectacular lighting effects and video projection to accompany several of the pieces.

The Festival saw the Royal Marines showcase their incredible musicianship, versatility and pageantry and featured a wide range of musical styles, including music from the big screen, superb solo items, as well as the traditional marches and overtures and of course, the world famous Royal Marines Corps Of Drums - a firm favourite with audiences across the globe.

The Massed Bands of the Royal Marines performed the concert three times over the last two days to over 14,000 people who flocked to The Royal Albert Hall to support the event. Last year's concert was the first time the concert had been available to stream live via social media to great success with over two million people tuning in over the 12 month period.

Due to this unprecedented success this year's concert was once again broadcast on social media platforms and is available on this page above or by heading directly to the Royal Marines YouTube channel.

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