A scuba diver from Kent has mixed with royalty at a presentation which handed over the presidency of the British Sub-Aqua Club to the Duke of Cambridge.

Tony Marshall, from Sevenoaks, is BSAC’s vice president and joined the Duke and the Prince of Wales at a reception marking the handover.

The 73-year-old of Halsted, helped Prince William kit up for a scuba dive to mark the occasion.

It was announced in May that Prince William has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather to take the helm of the UK’s governing body for scuba diving and snorkelling, which celebrated its diamond jubilee last year.

On Wednesday July 9, Their Royal Highnesses joined 100 BSAC members to say thank you to The Prince of Wales for his four decades of loyal leadership.

The Duke took the plunge at the event, held at the Oasis lido in London’s West End, and teamed up with 17-year-old scuba diver, Tom Billingham, to carry out essential safety checks before descending on a pool dive.

Tony, dad-of-three and grandfather-of-four has been scuba diving since 1958 and now teaches others.

He said: “The Prince was a charming man and interested in what one had to say.

“For me it has been an incredible experience to meet both the past and present president in one day and to share with them their overwhelming desire to bring young people into the sport.”

Speaking at the reception, after receiving a Lifetime Honorary Member Award by BSAC chairman Eugene Farrell, the Prince said: “I feel extraordinarily proud having lasted for 40 years as your president and am delighted that my eldest son is taking over from me.”

“I can only assume that his interest probably stems from the fact that I threw him into the swimming pool on many occasions and instead of putting him off, it actually enthused him.”

The Duke, who was given a scuba diving T-shirt for his son George, said: “It is a great honour to be here with my father to accept the role as president.

“I hope that one day my son, George, might follow in our footsteps.

“At the moment bathtime is quite painful but I imagine as he gets a little bit older donning a snorkel and mask might calm him down.”