Princess Anne Opens £15 Million Royal Marines Attraction in Major Tribute to Britain’s Elite Commandos
Princess Anne has officially opened a £15 million attraction celebrating more than 360 years of Royal Marines history, marking a major milestone for the historic military corps.
The Princess Royal attended the launch of the Royal Marines Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Wednesday evening, joining General Gwyn Jenkins for celebrations marking the Corps’ 362nd birthday.
The new attraction, located inside Boathouse 6, offers visitors an opportunity to explore the history, traditions and demanding work of one of Britain’s most recognised military forces.
Opening to the public the following day, the experience has been designed to offer considerably more than a conventional museum visit, with interactive activities bringing the Marines’ training and operations to life.
Among its features is a real rigid-hulled inflatable boat, known as a RHIB, which visitors can climb aboard to get a closer look at the equipment used by the Corps.
The attraction also includes a traversing wall designed to test visitors’ nerve and a dedicated training area inspired by the demanding exercises undertaken by Royal Marines recruits.
The activities reflect elements of the 32-week training programme at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, where recruits face some of the toughest challenges in military training.
Beyond the interactive displays, the experience takes visitors through more than three centuries of Royal Marines history, featuring important artefacts and accounts of missions carried out by the Corps.
A particularly significant part of the collection is its display of all ten Victoria Crosses awarded to Royal Marines, recognising acts of extraordinary bravery from the Crimean War through to the Second World War.
The exhibition aims to show how the Corps has developed over generations while maintaining the traditions and values that have shaped its identity.
Lead curator James Daly said the project provided an opportunity to tell a story extending beyond military achievements and battlefield history.
He explained that the team had worked closely with the Royal Marines to ensure the attraction reflected both the organisation’s modern identity and its remarkable heritage.
The opening also gave Princess Anne an opportunity to recognise the contribution and history of a military organisation with a long association with the British Armed Forces.
Her attendance at the anniversary celebrations highlighted the importance of preserving the stories of those who have served and the traditions passed down through generations.
With its combination of historic artefacts, personal accounts and hands-on activities, the £15 million Royal Marines Experience is set to offer visitors a new way to discover the Corps’ remarkable legacy.
