King Charles paid a visit to the UK Submarine Service's homebase on Thursday to personally thank Royal Navy submariners for their service. The visit took place at

Coulport, part of HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland, where the King met with active submariners, their families, and other base staff.

The King was greeted by Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE, the First Sea Lord, along with other senior Royal Navy officials. After receiving the Royal Salute, His Majesty spoke with serving members of the Royal Navy who work on British submarines, learning more about their experiences and duties.

During the visit, King Charles toured one of the Vanguard-class submarines, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. He spent time in the Control Room to gain insight into the daily operations aboard the vessel, and also visited the crew's bunk areas and galley. In the Senior Rates' Mess, he signed the visitor book, marking the occasion.

The King also took time to acknowledge a group of submariners who hold the prestigious Gold Deterrent Pin, awarded for significant contributions to the Continuous At Sea Deterrent, a critical element of the UK's defense.

This visit held special meaning for King Charles, as he himself served in the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1974, participating in several missions during his time in the service. Photo by Dan Marsh, Wikimedia commons.