Prince Harry spends Valentine’s Day at Exercise Clockwork in Norway
Harry’s back in uniform: Prince leaves Meghan at home on their first Valentine’s day as a married couple as he dons his Royal Marines fatigues for visit to Arctic Circle to meet Commandos undergoing cold weather training
- The Duke of Sussex is spending his first Valentine’s Day as a married man in Norway, in the Arctic Circle
- He arrived at Bardufloss Air Force Base, where temperatures are around freezing point, on Thursday
- Prince Harry will today help troops celebrate 50th anniversary of theextreme cold weather training
- He will meet servicemen undergoing the gruelling Exercise Clockwork challenge, now in its 50th year
The Duke of Sussex is spending his first Valentine’s Day as a married man in one of the planet’s harshest climates, meeting British armed forces taking part in winter survival training inside the Arctic Circle.
Harry, who travelled by charter plane, experienced the icy wilds of northern Norway as he meets British servicemen undergoing the gruelling Exercise Clockwork during a tour of their base on Thursday.
The annual winter exercise has trained over 16,000 Royal Marines and Royal Navy sailors and airmen since 1969.
The Duchess of Sussex is believed to be at home in Kensington Palace following a turbulent week that saw her father leaked details of a ‘devastating’ letter and her friends spoke publicly about the ‘global bullying’ she has endured.
Meghan is a self-confessed ‘sucker for Valentine’s Day’ – previously revealing she wakes up every February 14 ‘waiting with bated breath to be dipped into a kiss’.
The duke, who is due to become a father for the first time in late April or early May, was met with temperatures just over freezing point when he arrived at the Bardufoss air station, 200 miles (322km) within the Arctic Circle.
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The Duke of Sussex greets troops during his visit to Exercise Clockwork in Bardufoss, Norway, for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying for extreme cold weather training
Harry in northern Norway on Thursday where he is meeting British servicemen undergoing the gruelling Exercise Clockwork during a tour of their base. He arrived by charter plane and was met with freezing conditions
Harry arrived on a private jet at the remote Bardufoss air station shortly after 11.15am local time (10.15am GMT), where he was greeted by UK ambassador to Norway Richard Wood.
Following his visit today, a Royal Navy Sea King MK4 will be presented as a gate guardian by the UK military to the Norwegian armed forces to mark the 50th anniversary.
Harry’s trip marks the 50th anniversary of Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying to the remote base.
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There, military personnel are taught how to survive, operate and fight in the sub-zero conditions, as well as gaining experience of operating aircraft in severe cold weather and mountainous environments.
The multinational exercise, hosted by the Norwegian Armed Forces, comprises environmental flying qualifications, cold weather survival, and snow and ice driving courses.
Harry, in his role as Captain General Royal Marines, will meet some of the 1,000 military personnel living and training at the base.
Their presence is widely considered a show of strength in the face of increased aggression from Vladimir Putin.
Harry touches down in snow Norway. The duke, who is due to become a father for the first time when the Duchess of Sussex gives birth later this year, was met with freezing temperatures
That’s not very romantic! The Duke of Sussex is spending his first Valentine’s Day as a married man meeting British armed forces taking part in winter survival training inside the Arctic Circle
Harry is greeted by an official after arriving in Norway. Harry’s trip marks the 50th anniversary of Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying to the remote base
Harry in Norway today. His trip marks the 50th anniversary of Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying to the remote base
The Duke is set to learn about Exercise Clockwork during his visit today. The multinational exercise, hosted by the Norwegian Armed Forces, comprises environmental flying qualifications, cold weather survival, and snow and ice driving courses
The Duke of Sussex touches down in Bardufloss. Harry was appointed Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017, taking over the role from his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh
Harry chats to troops after touching down in Bardufloss on Thursday. He was met with temperatures around freezing point for his visit to the Bardufoss air station, some 200 miles (322km) within the Arctic Circle
Harry arrives at Bardufloss, where military personnel are taught how to survive, operate and fight in the sub-zero conditions, as well as gaining experience of operating aircraft in severe cold weather and mountainous environments
During his visit today, the Duke will see field tents, snow vehicles and a Quincey Shelter, a makeshift shelter built of snow in which the elite forces are able to camp
What is Excercise Clockwork?
Every winter, the Commando Helicopter Force leave their RNAS Yeovilton base and head to their second home at Bardufoss, according to the Royal Navy.
The hardy aviators fly anywhere in the world, and Clockwork is considered vital in readying the Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel that form CHF.
It was 1969 when the first Westland Wessex helicopters, of what is now CHF’s 845 Naval Air Squadron, arrived in Scandinavia and, living out of rudimentary shelters, conducted trials to show the UK’s commitment to defend NATO’s northern flank and see if they could support 3 Commando Brigade in the unforgiving environment.
The Duke will also see field tents, snow vehicles and a Quincey Shelter, a makeshift shelter built of snow in which the elite forces are able to camp.
Harry was appointed Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017, taking over the role from his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, who held the appointment for 64 years.
The duke already has experience of colder climates, facing temperatures as low as -35C on charity expeditions.
Harry took part in treks to the North Pole in 2011 and South Pole in 2013 with Walking With The Wounded.
Lieutenant Colonel David West, officer commanding Exercise Clockwork, 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 was given a warm welcome as he arrived at the air base today. The duke already has experience of colder climates, facing temperatures as low as -35C on charity expeditions
Harry meets troops at Bardufloss Air Force Base on Thursday. The duke is due to become a father for the first time when the Duchess of Sussex gives birth later this year
Harry chats with troops at Bardufloss Air Force Base. Lieutenant Colonel David West, officer commanding Exercise Clockwork, said he was ‘honoured’ to have the royal there
The Duke of Sussex being briefed on the history and context of Clockwork during a visit to Exercise Clockwork in Bardufoss, Norway. Harry previously took part in treks to the North Pole in 2011 and South Pole in 2013 with Walking With The Wounded
Harry listens intently to a talk on Exercise Clockwork at Bardufloss today. He previously took part in treks to the North Pole in 2011 and South Pole in 2013 with Walking With The Wounded
Harry meets troops at Bardufloss today. He was appointed Captain General Royal Marines in 2017, taking over the role from his grandfather, who held the appointment for 64 years
Harry at the training base on Thursday. Temperatures were around freezing point for his visit to the Bardufoss air station, some 200 miles (322km) within the Arctic Circle
The Duke of Sussex was in good spirits for his trip to Norway. Harry previously took part in treks to the North Pole in 2011 and South Pole in 2013 with Walking With The Wounded
Harry is at Bardufloss to meet troops and learn more about Exercise Clockwork. The multinational exercise, hosted by the Norwegian Armed Forces, comprises environmental flying qualifications, cold weather survival, and snow and ice driving courses
Harry meets Marine commandos on Thursday. Lieutenant Colonel David West, officer commanding Exercise Clockwork, said he was ‘honoured’ to have the royal there
Meghan is understood to be at home in London while Harry is in Norway. Harry’s trip marks the 50th anniversary of Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter Command deploying to the remote base
He added: ‘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.
‘For 50 years Commando Helicopter Force and its predecessors have operated in this region and the skills learnt here are more relevant than ever.’
Meghan’s love of Valentine’s Day – and how she gave tips for potential suitors
In her former life as an actress and lifestyle blogger, Meghan shared a ‘Valentine’s wish list’ on her website The Tig – filled with potential gift ideas for that special someone.
In the gift guide, first published in 2016, Meghan admitted she’s a ‘sucker for Valentine’s Day’ and wakes up every February 14 ‘waiting with bated breath to be dipped into a kiss’.
After that, suitors should serve breakfast in bed on a tray embossed with the words ‘All my love’ and give their love interest a single flower along with a romantic handwritten note, according to the guide.
Meghan, pictured on an old Instagram post, previously shared a ‘Valentine’s wish list’ on her website The Tig – filled with potential gift ideas for that special someone
Paying attention Harry? In 2016 the actress shared several of her Valentine Day gift ideas on her blog, The Tig – including designer lingerie and Jo Malone fragrance
Most importantly, all of this should be happening in Paris, as Meghan likes to feel as if she’s ‘immersed’ in the famous 1950 photo by Robert Doisneau of a smooching couple in the City of Love.
The former actress also gushed on her blog about ‘the season for heart-shaped chocolates, red roses, and lovey-dovey greeting cards’.
But for the lowdown on what she really wants, Harry should turn to an earlier Valentine’s Day gift guide in which she wrote: ‘In terms of gifts, be it breakfast in bed, a sweet love note, or a single flower… it really is the thought that counts.’
The priceless advice comes from a post Meghan made in 2015 on her now defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, named because of her appreciation of the wine Tignanello.
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