The Duke of Edinburgh began his North American visit in New York on Monday. Baltimore students and a return to George Washington’s Mount Vernon are among the engagements still ahead.
By Mimi Gill, Royally Inspired
Prince Edward arrived in New York on Sunday evening for a visit that will take him through three U.S. cities before he travels to Canada. There will be the familiar royal moments, including a reception and a stop at George Washington’s home. But the thread running through the trip is what happens when young people are given room to try something new.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, founded by Edward’s father, Prince Philip, is central to the itinerary. The program asks young people to set goals in areas such as service, skills, physical activity and an adventurous journey. Edward now chairs its international foundation, and the U.S. organization is working to reach more participants through schools and community partners.
What Edward did in New York
The Court Circular records that Edward attended a luncheon on Monday as patron of the Wren Project, followed by a reception in his role as chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
The Wren Project provides free listening support in the United Kingdom for adults living with autoimmune diseases. Its inclusion in Edward’s New York schedule is a reminder that the visit extends beyond ceremonial events and the youth award.
Other engagements reported for the New York portion of the trip include discussions about access to the arts and the skills young people will need for a changing workforce.
Baltimore students are next in focus
In Baltimore, Edward is expected to visit Western High School as it prepares to join Award USA. Students and staff are due to meet him ahead of the school’s first group taking part in the program.
That stop may tell readers more about the purpose of the visit than any formal reception. The award is designed to be completed through goals and activities young people choose for themselves. A new school partnership can put that opportunity within reach of students who might never have heard of the program otherwise.
Edward’s connection to the award is also personal. Philip established it in 1956, and his youngest son has spent years promoting its expansion internationally. In the United States, that family legacy is being translated into local opportunities for teenagers and young adults.
A return to Mount Vernon
On Thursday, October 1, Edward is scheduled to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia. The estate says he will tour its new Education Center, the mansion, a Revolutionary War encampment and the Washington Library, then lay a wreath at Washington’s tomb. British Ambassador Sir Christian Turner is expected to accompany him.
The visit comes as the United States marks 250 years since independence. There is a small family connection, too: Edward visited Mount Vernon in 2001, and his brother Charles and sister Anne went there together in 1970.
After the U.S. engagements, Edward is expected in Toronto on Friday, October 2, for events connected to the International Award in Canada.
The itinerary crosses a great deal of ground, from a New York charity luncheon to a Baltimore classroom and one of America’s best-known historic sites. For RI, the Baltimore visit is the one to watch next. We will see what the students say about the opportunity opening at their school, and whether the partnership becomes a lasting part of the award’s U.S. growth.
Related reading: The British Royal Family: Who’s Who
Sources: Court Circular, September 27 and September 28; The Wren Project; Award USA; Mount Vernon announcement; Royal Central itinerary.
