WINDSOR, England (Reuters) - Prince Philip , the 99-year-old husband of Britains Queen Elizabeth , made a rare public appearance on Wednesday to hand over his patronage of the Rifles to Prince Charless wife, Camilla, after 67 years of association with the infantry regiment.

A former naval officer renowned for his sometimes brusque manner and humor, Philip married Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became queen. He is now by far the longest-serving consort of any British monarch.

Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been colonel-in-chief of the Rifles since its formation in 2007 but his connection to the regiment stretches back to 1953 as he has served as colonel-in-chief of successive regiments which make up the Rifles.