Lady Louise Windsor, 22, received her gold Duke of Edinburgh Award from her father, Prince Edward, during a celebration at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on July 3, 2026. The event marked the 70th anniversary of the award, which was founded by Prince Philip in 1956.
Ceremony Details
Louise was among more than 600 young people honored at the event. In the West Drawing Room, Edward handed his daughter her framed certificate in an informal ceremony. The duke, who became Duke of Edinburgh after Philip's death, noted that Louise had completed all three levels of the award: bronze, silver, and gold. "We've got someone else who's actually done all three," he said, pointing to her. "Just about," she replied. Louise explained that she completed most of her award during the COVID-19 pandemic, so receiving the certificate in person was special: "I did mine mainly during Covid, so they didn't really award anything, so, nice to get it now."
Family and Guests
Louise was accompanied by her mother, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and her reported boyfriend, Felix da Silva-Clamp. The ceremony also included Olympic curler Bruce Mouat and other award recipients. Edward shared a personal memory of receiving his own gold award from his father, Prince Philip, at St James's Palace in 1986, as part of a digital scrapbook for the award's anniversary.
Speeches and Celebrations
Following the indoor ceremony, the party moved to the gardens, where Edward addressed the attendees: "Just feel a bit proud of what you have managed to achieve. And when you leave this garden, just walk a few inches taller. Because there are others out there who will say: 'Oh, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, I can do that.' The difference is, you know you can. Well done."
Isla Ranger, 18, from Lochgilphead, credited her grandmother for inspiring her journey. "I realised quickly that the Award was much more than a chance to hang out with my friends," she said. "Through the sections, I discovered new passions and opportunities." She described the program as "mentally challenging," adding, "Finding the strength to keep going when it feels difficult is something we can carry into our future challenges." Isla, who will start at St Andrews University in September, said meeting Lady Louise was inspiring: "It was really lovely to see someone that's graduated where I'm going to university. She was so lovely to speak to as well."
Friends Anna Falconer, Calum Davidson, and Ruby Mann completed all three levels together, surviving flooded tents and disagreements. "A few fall-outs along the way, because we all got sick of each other by the end," said Calum, 17. Their parents noted the challenges of supporting the expeditions. Bryan Caine, 78, who received his gold award in 1966 and has been a Scout leader for 60 years, reflected: "It's fantastic that I've survived another Duke of Edinburgh expedition really."
