Royal Wedding: Army officer set to greet newlyweds says troops 'will make Prince Harry proud because he's one of us'

Prince Harry on a tour of Estonia in 2014
PA Archive/PA Images

The Household Cavalry officer who will salute the royal couple as they leave the chapel after being married said his regiment was determined to make Harry proud because “he’s one of us”.

Captain Tom Mountain of the Blues and Royals, Prince Harry’s former regiment, will be one of the first officers greeting him and new wife Meghan Markle as they leave Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.

Captain Mountain, 28, who served in Afghanistan in 2013, will stand on the left at the top of the West Steps waiting for the newlyweds to leave.

He said the regiment had been doing everything possible to ensure the day ran smoothly and added: “It’s hugely special for us because Harry was a member of the Household Cavalry and it brings us closer to him — he was one of us.

Prince Harry scrambles out of his tent during a shift at Camp Bastion
PA

"A huge amount of preparation has gone in to keep it to the standards we endeavour to achieve.

“He is one of our former brothers, so everyone wants to go that little bit further and do the best we possibly can.

"The preparation is hard and meticulous. We want him to be proud. It should be fantastic.”

The Household Cavalry was formed in 1661 on the direct order of King Charles II and is made up of the oldest and most senior regiments in the Army — the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.

Royal Wedding rehearsal - In pictures

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"Harry joined the Blues and Royals, based in Combermere Barracks in Windsor, in April 2006 and did two tours of Afghanistan, rising to the rank of captain.

Captain Mountain will be one of 24 soldiers from the Household Cavalry who will line the steps.

They will be wearing silver helmets and carrying swords with which they will perform the royal salute.

The couple will then walk to their horsedrawn carriage and a mounted platoon of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will escort them through the streets of Windsor before taking them back to the castle.

Captain Mountain, who is based in Hyde Park barracks in Knightsbridge and joined the Household Cavalry eight years ago, said: “A huge amount of people wanted to be in it.

"They have chosen people who have gone above and beyond and those who have worked with Prince Harry.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to be a part of such a special occasion, not only for the world and nation but mainly for two people getting married.”

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