Prince Harry is spending his first Valentine’s Day as a married man visiting British servicemen and women undergoing winter weather training – hundreds of miles inside the Arctic Circle.

His trip marks 50 years since the Army’s Joint Helicopter Command were deployed to the remote Bardufoss air station in Norway for the first time as part of Exercise Clockwork.

The temperature there can drop to -35C (-31F) – conditions Harry has experienced himself on charity expeditions.

When he arrived this morning, though, it was relatively temperate -2C (28.4F).

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Exercise Clockwork – a multinational event hosted by the Norwegian armed forces – includes cold weather survival and snow and ice driving courses.

Troops are taught how to operate and fight in harsh, subzero conditions.

They also gain experience of flying aircraft in frozen, mountainous environments.

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In his role as Captain General Royal Marines, the Duke of Sussex will be meeting meeting military personnel who live and train at the base.

He will also be shown a Quincey Shelter – a makeshift structure built of snow in which elite forces are able to camp – as well as field tents and snow vehicles.

Before being appointed to the post with the Marines in December 2017, his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh held the appointment for 64 years.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel David West 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.”

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