Reception for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

On Friday, 21st October 2011, at Government House, Canberra, Her Excellency the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC, as Patron, and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, hosted a reception to launch the 50th Anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Australia, in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

According to The Canberra Times, "a modest and expansive Duke of Edinburgh spoke at length at a reception at Government House in Canberra for the youth awards scheme in his name, suggesting young people in many ways had not changed much since he helped to start the initiative in the mid 1950s."

The Duke of Edinburgh with Young World Fellow Michael Palmer.

He also presented a World Fellowship pin to Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer and to his 21-year-old son Michael. Mr Palmer has donated $6 million over ten years to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, believed to be one of the largest single donations to a youth organisation in Australia.

The Duke of Edinburgh at Government House in Canberra.

Prince Philip said he did not like to bask in any reflected glory from having his name attached to the scheme which he helped to set up in England in the 1950s, initially to motivate boys to become involved in voluntary, self-development activities. It is now regarded as the world's leading achievement award for young people, with participants testing their mind, body and soul to get their bronze, silver and gold awards.