Prince Edward, following in the footsteps of his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, embarked on a series of meaningful engagements in Germany and Czechia to honor the

accomplishments of young individuals who successfully completed the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

The four-day visit commenced in Berlin on Monday, 22nd May, with a warm welcome from the British Ambassador to Germany, Jill Gillard, followed by a lunch at the British Embassy attended by members of the Bundestag.

During his time in Germany, His Royal Highness met with education authorities, including German Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watzinger, at Schulz am Schillerpark to engage in a discussion with young participants of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award scheme. Prince Edward gained insights into the scheme's implementation in schools and also visited the Waffle Stand, a project created by students striving to achieve their awards.

The 59-year-old royal then proceeded to the James-Simon-Galerie, presiding over the presentation of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, as well as bestowing the Founder's Medal upon Klaus Vogel. Mr. Vogel, the founder of the Duke of Edinburgh programme in Germany and the former National Director for the scheme from 1995 to 2020, was recognized for his significant contributions. To conclude his first day in Germany, Prince Edward added his signature to the Golden Book of Berlin, which had also been signed by King Charles and Queen Camilla during their State Visit in March.

The following day, Prince Edward visited Alexander Haus, an establishment dedicated to becoming a center for education and reconciliation, as envisioned by the descendants of Alfred Alexander, the Jewish doctor who served as President of the Berlin Medical Association. The Duke interacted with staff, volunteers, and students participating in a literacy workshop, and the visit culminated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

Subsequently, Prince Edward boarded a train to Prague, where he was warmly received by the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Matthew Field, upon his arrival at Spandau Central Station. After paying tribute to Sir Nicholas Winton and the Czech Kindertransport at dedicated monuments, the Prince attended a reception at the Ambassador's residence, honoring young individuals involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

On the third day of his tour, Prince Edward commenced his agenda with a meeting with President Petr Pavel at Prague Castle. He then visited the Tree Alley of HRH Prince Philip, where he interacted with scheme participants who had been involved in tree planting activities and environmental projects. Subsequently, the Prince met with members of the Czech DofE's Youth Advisory Board at the Chamber of Deputies, followed by a roundtable discussion on "non-formal education" with parliament members, a key objective of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme. The day concluded with another awards ceremony, where Prince Edward presented certificates to all the young achievers of the Gold Award in the past two years.

The Duke's final day began at the Youth Centre for award in Action, where he met with current participants of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and scheme organizers in the Czech Republic. The trip's closing event was a visit to the Operation Anthropoid Memorial and the Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral, where the Prince paid his respects by laying flowers. He then returned to the United Kingdom.

Prince Edward has been actively involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme since 1986, serving as a Trustee in the UK since 1988, establishing the International Special Projects Group in 1999, becoming a Trustee in the International Award in 2006, and assuming the role of Chairman of the Trustees for the DofE International Awards Foundation in 2015.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, founded by the late Prince Philip in 1956, aims to empower young people, foster their confidence, and develop essential life skills, enabling them to reach their full potential. Prince Edward's dedication to continuing his father's legacy through these engagements highlights the enduring significance of the scheme. Photo by UKinUSA, Wikimedia commons.