Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme granted a Royal Charter: Reception at Buckingham Palace

Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme granted a Royal Charter: Reception at Buckingham Palace; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, speaking at podium introducing the Queen SOT (faint audio) Queen Elizabeth II speech SOT (faint audio) - A Royal Charter is usually granted to organisations that have shown eminence, stability and permanence in their chosen field but these words do not entirely to justice to the Duke of Edinburgh's awards / this may be because the award is not about words but about actions, about changing young people's lives / Giving them the chance to grow by experiences and ideas outside their own neighbourhood, in a way that is enjoyable and rewarding / There is nothing to beat human contact and hands on experience, mutual understanding leads to mutual respect / That is why I want to pay tribute today to the Duke of Edinburgh / Established 50 years ago, since then over 5 million young people have taken up the challenge across the world / Number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds increased by over a third last year / You have my deep and enduring admiration / I now have great pleasure in presenting the Royal Charter