Duke’s final Scottish ceremony

Last Duke of Edinburgh Award presentations undertaken by Prince Philip

There was a poignancy to the Duke of Edinburgh gold awards ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse yesterday.

As he prepares to bow out of public life, Prince Philip presided over his final presentations north of the border.

For some young recipients, that fact made the day even more special.

Four former Dundee High School pupils chatted with the duke, who founded the awards back in 1956.

There was a great debate about the state of their hands when Isabel Campbell, who is hoping to study medicine at Belfast, disclosed she, with Yvonne Kaufmann and medical student Laura Meiklejohn, had opted to canoe along stretches of Scotland’s waterways.

“He was asking how our hands were after doing that,” said Isabel.

While they were worrying about that, Neil Gunn had problems with his feet, having opted to walk 80 miles as part of his expedition.

Crook of Devon’s Robert King was pleased he had put off receiving his award until this year since it would be the duke’s swansong.

“I finished school – Dollar Academy – five years ago and graduated from Heriot-Watt three weeks ago,” said Robert.

“When I signed up to do it I did not realise it was going to be his last one.

“It made it a bit more special.”

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Dundee High School pupils, from left, Neil Gunn, Isabel Campbell, Yvonne Kaufmann and Laura Meiklejohn.

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. The Duke of Edinburgh chatting with Yvonne Kaufmann, second right, and Isabel Campbell, right.

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. BBC News presenter Catriona Shearer with Sean Cowe, left, and Robert King from Perth and Kinross.