Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, hosted the Gold Award celebrations for the first time since being bestowed with the title Duke of Edinburgh earlier this year. The event took place on Monday, May 15th, and is part of a series of celebratory events for young people across the UK.
As Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), Prince Edward paid tribute to his late father, Prince Philip, who founded the Duke of Edinburgh Award in 1956. During the event, he gave a speech about the impact of the Awards, alongside former professional footballer and Silver DofE Award holder, Jermaine Jenas.
The Buckingham Palace Garden was transformed into a festival-style celebration for the week, welcoming over 9,000 young people from schools, community organizations, youth groups, and workplaces from all over the UK. Prince Edward met people who have shown extraordinary perseverance, creativity, and resilience to complete their Gold DofE Award.
The Earl of Wessex also met Ffion Davies, a 19-year-old Gold Award achiever who spoke about how the DofE gave her the confidence to follow her dream of becoming a firefighter. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award encourages young people to challenge themselves, develop new skills, and make a positive impact in their communities.
The Gold Award is the highest achievement in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and requires young people to complete a series of challenging activities in four categories: volunteering, physical, skills, and an adventurous journey. Achieving the Gold Award is a significant accomplishment and represents a commitment to personal development, self-improvement, and community service.
Prince Edward’s role as Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) has seen him host four celebratory events for young people across two days, culminating in the Gold Award celebrations on May 15th. The Prince’s dedication to the Award is a fitting tribute to his father’s legacy and the impact of the program on generations of young people in the UK.
