A ROYAL Navy Officer from Hayes celebrated his formal commissioning in a parade attended by Princess Anne.

Midshipman George King, 24, was one of 154 Officer Cadets taking part in Lord High Admiral’s Divisions at Britannia Royal Naval College. 

Around 800 families, friends and guests, watched as Her Royal Highness inspected the parade as the representative of her father, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, The Lord High Admiral.

Mr King was invited to the parade as he completed an intense 30-week royal navy training course for officers.

“We live in a dangerous world and I wanted a career that would allow me to do what I can to make people safe," the Midshipman said.

“I know that now I’ve completed this course anything I reach for is within my grasp.”

Mr King was educated at St Marks Catholic School in Hounslow and graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2014 with a degree in computer engineering.

His training course was mostly based in Britannia Royal Navy College in Dartmouth but also consisted of a three-week stint onboard the Type 45 frigate HMS Daring.

Mr King will now transfer to HMS Collingwood to begin Weapons Engineering Officer training in order to work on submarines.

The Royal Navy’s initial naval training course for Officers involves maritime training on the River Dart as well as training that utilises the rugged environment of Dartmoor. 

The course is designed to enable Cadets to operate on sea and land and is in partnership with the UK Armed Forces and other nations.