Lady Louise Windsor has received her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award from her father, following a tradition set by him. The ceremony took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where over 600 young individuals were honored for their accomplishments in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the award initiated by Prince Philip in 1956.

Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh after his father’s passing, presented Lady Louise, who recently graduated from the University of St Andrews, with her certificate during a casual gathering in the palace’s West Drawing Room. Olympic curler Bruce Mouat and other awardees were also in attendance.

During the event, Edward acknowledged his daughter’s achievement of completing the bronze, silver, and gold DofE awards. Lady Louise mentioned that due to the challenges of the Covid period, the awarding process was delayed, making the recognition even more special.

In a reminiscent moment, Edward handed Lady Louise her framed DofE certificate, emphasizing the significance of her accomplishment. This act mirrored a similar gesture from his own father, Prince Philip, who presented Edward with his certificate in 1986.

After the indoor ceremony, Edward addressed the guests in the palace gardens, encouraging them to take pride in their achievements and stand a little taller as they move forward. The attendees, including Lady Louise’s mother Sophie, shared their experiences and inspirations from their DofE journeys.

One of the guests, Bryan Caine, a former Gold Award recipient, reflected on his enduring connection to the program as a Scout leader for over six decades. The celebrations were filled with personal stories and memories, highlighting the impact of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award on multiple generations.

The event served as a testament to the dedication and resilience of the award recipients, with each individual sharing their unique experiences and the valuable lessons learned throughout their DofE journey.