An 18-year-old from Oxford, Matthew Stone, has described a once-in-a-lifetime moment after meeting HRH The Duke of Edinburgh during a Buckingham Palace celebration marking his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award achievement.
Matthew, who completed his Gold Award through Abingdon School, was among thousands of young people invited to the festival-style event held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The celebration recognised more than 9,000 Gold Award holders from across the UK.
Hosted by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh in his role as Patron, the event saw a small number of participants given the rare opportunity to speak directly with him, including Matthew, who shared his personal journey and motivation for completing the award.
Matthew explained that he set himself a goal in Year 9 to complete all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, culminating in Gold, and to bring his grandfather to the Buckingham Palace ceremony. That ambition became reality when his grandfather, Bernard, attended as his guest.
Bernard holds a unique family connection to the Award, having been among the first recipients of the Gold Award in 1961, presented by the then Duke of Edinburgh at St James’s Palace. During the event, he shared memories of his own experience, including joining the Civil Defence Service after the Second World War and taking part in training exercises designed to simulate emergency response scenarios.
Reflecting on the exchange, Matthew said: “I think The Duke was quite shocked to hear that my grandad received his Award three years prior to my birth! It was so lovely to speak with him and meeting him just made an already special day even more special. It’s definitely going to be a lifelong memory.”
The Duke reflected on the continuity of the scheme across generations, noting the enduring relevance of the Award since its inception more than 70 years ago.
The celebration also featured speeches and appearances from figures including F1 commentator Billy Monger and TV chef Jon Watts, alongside other inspirational speakers from sport, media, and advocacy.
Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said it was a “privilege” to celebrate Gold Award holders at Buckingham Palace, praising their “extraordinary perseverance and resilience” and the skills they develop through the programme.
She added that it is “incredible to think” that participation has grown from around 7,000 young people in the scheme’s early years to over 345,000 starting each year today, highlighting ongoing efforts to expand access for millions more young people.
Matthew described the experience as deeply meaningful, saying the exchange with HRH made an already special day unforgettable and one he will remember for life.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to be one of the UK’s largest youth development programmes, encouraging resilience, independence, and community engagement through volunteering, skills development, physical activity, and expedition challenges.
