Prince Edward rolls out the Royal welcome at Windsor

The Duke of Edinburgh wasted no time getting back into royal duties after his recent tour of Canada, hosting a special reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to celebrate the achievements of 600 young people.

Prince Edward welcomed the group of Gold Award recipients from the Duke of Edinburgh programme, a challenge he knows well himself having received his own Gold Award from Prince Philip in 1986.

Congratulating the young achievers, the Duke told them they should be “incredibly proud” of their accomplishments. 

Throughout the event, he took the opportunity to meet with award holders and hear firsthand how the programme has positively transformed their lives.

Among the speakers was Olympian and British and European record holder Eilish McColgan, who encouraged the audience to “find that DofE feeling again as finding your people, your place, your purpose matters more than we often realise.” 

Also sharing her experience was 18-year-old Glaswegian Nerea Winchester, celebrating her own Gold Award on the day.

The young participants contributed an impressive 351,156 hours of volunteering, valued at an estimated £2.2 million. 

Over 20,000 young people in Scotland began their Duke of Edinburgh journeys during this period, taking on challenges that build skills, character, and confidence.

Achieving a Gold Award requires a minimum 12 month commitment, including developing new talents, planning and completing an expedition and residential experience, and volunteering for causes close to their hearts.

Helen Anderson, Director for Scotland, described the Holyroodhouse event as “a real honour and a privilege”, highlighting the “thousands of smiling faces and proud family members” in attendance. 

She praised the programme for equipping young people with lifelong skills that will serve them well into the future.