His decision to step back from his position as a senior Royal, means that Harry will be giving up all his various military roles and titles. These include his positions as Captain General of the Royal Marines, as well as Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington and honorary Commodore-in-Chief of The Royal Navy’s Small Ships and Diving Operations. As a retired serviceman, Harry will be able to wear his military medals, but will not be allowed to don his military uniform at public events such as Trooping the Colour and Remembrance Sunday at the cenotaph.

Lord West of Spithead, the former First Sea Lord, told the Telegraph: “The next time he [the Duke of Sussex] is at a military event he should be in civilian clothes because he is no longer involved with any military units.

“It is very unfortunate. It is very sad to be losing him from the military.”

The Prince served nine years as an officer in the British Army, having received his commission in 2006 and was known as “Captain Wales”.

During that time he carried out two tours of duty in Afghanistan and received an Operational Service medal.

The Royal Marines have been caught off guard by Harry’s departure and are now concerned as to who will step in to replace him as Captain General of the Royal Marines.

The Prince inherited the role from his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, when the latter retired from public duty.

Lord West said: “A number of people in the Royal Marines had expressed concerns that they didn’t want a part-timer carrying out such an important role.

“It will be interesting to see who the next captain general will be.”

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He added: “The Duke of Edinburgh took it very seriously and he was delighted to pass it on to Harry.

“The Royal Marines will be sad to see Harry go but they were not happy to have a Captain General who was going to be only part-time in the UK.”

The Duke of Sussex told an audience on Sunday evening that “there was really no other option” but to step back from the Royal Family.

In what was his first speech, since he and Meghan shocked the world with their decision to leave the Royal Family, Harry insisted that the UK was his home and “the place that I love”.

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The Prince was speaking at a fund-raising event in central London for Sentebale, the charity that he helped to co-found in 2006 with Prince Seeiso.

The charity helps children living with HIV in southern Africa.

Harry told his audience: “I can only imagine what you may have heard and perhaps read over the past few weeks.

“So I want you to hear the truth from me as much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke but as Harry.”

He continued: “Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am.”

The Duke of Sussex will continue to carry out royal duties until the spring, including at a summit for African leaders in London on Monday.

Thereafter, he and Meghan will be free to make millions from commercial deals without oversight from Buckingham Palace, as they pursue a “financially independent” life.

It is understood that the couple have yet to sign any commercial deals and have agreed to not become brand ambassadors for large companies.

Instead, their commercial deals are expected to dovetail with their charitable interests.

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