Windsor Quartet Attend Duke of Edinburgh Awards Service of Thanksgiving

Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Earl and Countess of Wessex today were present at a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the 60th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.

Over 2,000 participants of the Awards over its six decades attended the service led by the Dean of Westminster, where Prince Edward gave a speech that thanked the Duke for his commitment to young people. “Your own concern for the welfare of young people and desire to encourage their development…has helped to empower millions of participants, parents, teachers, voluntary organisation leaders, employers, DofE leaders and mentors,” he said.

The Earl also spoke of some of the people he had met through the Awards scheme, including one young lady who spoke to him about wanting to learn how to pole dance. “So I told her to go for it; isn’t that what the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is all about?” was the Prince’s thought, encouraging the woman to at least give it a try.

The Queen was regal in a purple Angela Kelly crepe coat and matching floral hat (which somewhat resembled an upturned flower pot); while the Countess recycled a navy blue lace trimmed dress and jacket.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Patronage, The Countess of Wessex, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, The Earl of Wessex.