Long before Prince Edward became the Duke of Edinburgh, he earned the Gold award that carried his father’s title. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a personal challenge for young people ages 14 to 24. It asks them to stick with a skill, a physical activity and community service, and plan and complete a team journey.
That journey can be the most visible part of the experience, but much of the work happens in ordinary weeks. A teenager might practice an instrument, build up their swimming endurance and volunteer with a local group. The point is to choose goals that take time to reach and keep a record of the progress along the way.
What participants actually do
Service: Commit time to a community or cause.
Physical recreation: Work toward a fitness or activity goal.
Skills: Develop a practical, creative or personal ability.
Adventurous Journey: Plan, prepare for and complete a team journey.
The U.S. program offers Bronze, Silver and Gold. The stages ask for more time and responsibility as participants progress, and Gold adds a project in an unfamiliar setting. An Award Leader helps each participant design the program and track their work. It’s possible for two young people to earn the same award while pursuing very different interests.
From Prince Philip’s pilot to Prince Edward’s patronage
1956: Prince Philip’s pilot begins in Britain.
1958: A separate pilot opens to girls.
1986: Philip presents Edward with his Gold certificate.
2023: Edward becomes patron of both the UK and international awards.
The UK charity’s history shows how much the program changed from its first years, when boys and girls had different options. Today, young people choose from the same broad areas. Edward’s link to the program is personal as well as ceremonial: he earned Gold himself and served as a trustee before taking on the patronages previously held by his father.
Where American families can start
In the United States, families can begin with Award USA’s participant FAQ and ask whether a school or youth organization is an Award Center. Ask how mentoring and the team journey are arranged, what costs apply and what support is available locally. Those practical details can make a difference for a young person who already balances school, work or family responsibilities.
Edward’s April 2025 visit to the U.S. was organized in part to build connections with American schools and youth organizations. Our coverage of his later visit to Mount Vernon follows that work on this side of the Atlantic. The royal connection may bring people to the program, but the milestones belong to the young people who put in the weeks and months of work.
Sources and image credit
Award USA: How the Award works · U.S. participant FAQ · UK Award history · Patronage announcement
Featured archive photograph: Prince Edward at an Award reception in New York on April 28, 2025. UKinUSA / Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; cropped by a Wikimedia Commons contributor.
