British Royals Attend Gurkha Certification Parade in Pokhara

The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh observed a grand parade in Pokhara today, where 274 Nepali youth were officially inducted into the British Army. The event, held at the British Camp, marked the annual certification parade for new Gurkha recruits.

During their visit to Nepal, the British royals not only attended the parade but also interacted with the recruits’ families to learn more about their journey.

Addressing the newly enlisted soldiers, the Duke of Edinburgh remarked, “You have now become a Gurkha soldier. Out of more than 13,000 aspiring recruits, only 274 of you have made it through. This has been one of the biggest challenges of your life, and you should take immense pride in your achievement.”

The ceremony was attended by British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn, Major General Strickland DSO MBE, Colonel Commandant of the Gurkha Brigade, and other dignitaries. A total of 38 Coronation Medals and two Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were presented to Gurkha and British personnel in recognition of their service.

The march-out parade, led by the Brigade Band of the Gurkha Army, was a proud moment for the recruits’ families, who had traveled from across Nepal to witness the milestone.

The 274 selected trainees, who endured a year-long, transparent, and rigorous selection process, will now proceed to the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick, UK. There, they will undergo nine months of intensive military training before formally joining the British Army.

As part of their visit, the Duke and Duchess also toured the Gorkha Welfare Trust (GWT) Area Welfare Centre (AWC) in Pokhara to observe the support system in place for former British Army personnel residing in Nepal.

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