Lady Louise Windsor was recently honored with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award in a special ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The 22-year-old, who graduated from the University of St Andrews, received the prestigious award from her father, Prince Edward, who is now the Duke of Edinburgh.
The event celebrated the achievements of over 600 young individuals who completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Established in 1956 by Prince Philip, the award marks its 70th year. Among the guests were Olympic curler Bruce Mouat and various award recipients.
During the ceremony, Prince Edward presented Lady Louise with her certificate in the palace’s West Drawing Room. Reflecting on her experience, Lady Louise mentioned completing the award during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed her gratitude for finally receiving the recognition.
Prince Edward reminisced about his own Gold award celebration, where Prince Philip personally handed him his certificate in 1986. He shared this memory as part of the 70th-anniversary celebrations on the DofE website.
After the indoor ceremony, the attendees moved to the gardens where Prince Edward addressed the audience, encouraging them to take pride in their accomplishments. Among the guests were Isla Ranger, who credited her grandmother for inspiring her DofE journey, and a group of friends who completed Bronze, Silver, and Gold together.
The celebration also included Bryan Caine, a Scout leader who received his Gold Award in 1966, sharing his experiences with Prince Edward. The event concluded with heartfelt speeches, interactions with award recipients, and reflections on the enduring legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program.