Proud return of the original ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ award
THE award that inspired Prince Philip to help generations of youngsters untap their hidden potential is making a comeback.
The Duke of Edinburgh, below, who died aged 99 three years ago, was proud to gain the Moray Badge at Gordonstoun in 1938. It even encouraged him, following talks with Kurt Hahn – founder of the school near Elgin, Moray, and the man behind the first Moray Badges – to set up his own Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme in 1956.
On what would have been the Duke’s 100th birthday and in the run-up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the school staged a one-off reintroduction of the Moray Badge in 2021.
A total of 5,500 children took part in outdoor and creative activities.
Now, Gordonstoun is bringing back the Moray Badge permanently, with 12,000 local school pupils, aged five to 14, invited to enrol this autumn. Principal Lisa Kerr said: ‘Prince Philip threw himself into school life and took part in life-saving skills and various physical challenges to get the silver Moray Badge. ‘He went on to coach children from other schools to help them gain their Moray Badge and I’m sure he would be pleased to see the award is now being brought back permanently.’ Just like the Duke of Edinburgh Award, there are three levels. Activities such as orienteering must be completed to get the badge at each stage. Major General Seymour Monro, Lord Lieutenant of Moray, said: ‘I am delighted that Gordonstoun will lead the running of the Moray Badge again.’
QUEEN Camilla sported a military-inspired outfit yesterday as she visited the Royal Lancers for the first time since being appointed their colonel-in-chief.
The North Yorkshire regiment carries a personal connection for Camilla, 76, because her late father Major Bruce Shand served with the 12th Lancers during the Second World War.
Shand, who died in 2006 aged 89, was awarded the Military Cross for his heroism in the conflict.
Camilla, who took on the appointment last June, wore a blue Fiona Clare dress modelled on the Lancers uniform with a red mandarin collar and a jaunty beret with the regimental brooch of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was the previous colo
‘Gave a deeply personal speech’
nel-in-chief. Designer Ms Clare’s son is a captain in the Lancers and was present at yesterday’s event.
The Queen received the royal salute at Catterick Garrison near Richmond, before braving the rain to inspect some of the 152 soldiers on parade.
She also gave a deeply personal speech, recalling her father’s first impression of the regiment’s personnel as relaxed and friendly.
He later wrote of the senior noncommissioned officers that they ‘took my education in hand and tactfully but firmly directed my floundering steps. They were very competent nannies with a decidedly un-nanny like capacity for beer’.
Camilla left through a guard of honour and was given three cheers. She is understood to have been delighted to become colonel-in-chief because she is so proud of her family links.