Interview with Carte Blanche - Prince Edward

His Royal Highness Prince Edward, who is succeeding his father Prince Philip as head of the Awards Scheme, visited South Africa recently to present gold awards to successful candidates.

In this country they are known as the President's Awards, named after former President Mandela who is the South African patron.

Derek: 'Your Royal Highness, when did you become aware of these awards?'

HRH Prince Edward (The Earl of Wessex): 'Well I fell into it by mistake. I went to Gordonstoun, and every year we went on expeditions. They used to take us off to campsites on the west coast of Scotland, usually very carefully selected to make sure that if it rained it flooded.'

Derek: '[laughs] Uncomfortable as all hell…'

Prince Edward: 'Absolutely. We would then have to go and climb a mountain. After three years of doing this I went and said, 'Is there any way I can do an expedition in which you can walk around the mountains and camp at a different place each night?' They looked at me and said 'You better go and do the Duke of Edinburgh's Award'. That was the first I had ever heard of it.'

Derek: 'So you were not pushed into it by the Duke?'

Prince Edward: 'No, not at all. There was absolutely no parental pressure whatsoever.'

Derek: 'Your voyage of discovery took you from hydrofoils to flying lessons?'

Prince Edward: 'Yes. I was part of a team that was trying to build a sodium hydrofoil. It was sort of destined to be an attempt at the world sailing record, so it was going to go quite fast. The problem wasn't getting the foils up and sailing it, it was how the hell we were going to get it to stop that was the problem.'

Derek: 'You have benefited tremendously from the awards yourself and what about your siblings? What about Prince Charles and Prince Andrew… did they do it?'

Prince Edward: 'Yes they did. But for some strange reason, they never quite got to the gold level or they didn't fill in their paper work or something like that. They have always got an excuse. I sort of rather mistakenly did go all the way, and I was immediately recruited in [laughs]. Once they got me hooked, they have never let me go, so I keep on doing this. But, as I said, it is huge fun and a huge privilege.'

Derek: 'This isn't entirely competitive is it?'

Prince Edward: 'No certainly not. This is the other remarkable thing about it. It is about improving on your own abilities so it is about each individual. That means that particularly the disabled can take part on a completely equal basis to the able-bodied. It is the service component that makes a real difference to them, because they have always been recipients of service and suddenly this programme requires them to give service to others - to learn that there are others less fortunate than themselves. That, for a young disabled person, [it] makes a huge difference to their life. It gives them a completely different perspective of life around them, but also what they, as individuals, can offer.'

Prince Edward: 'We have got a very good program within correctional services working with young people who have fallen off the tracks and are in trouble. That program is working particularly well. The re-offending rate is traditionally very high. Those young people who go through the Awards… we can reduce it down to between one or two or three percent.'

Prince Edward was this year accompanied by his wife, the Countess of Wessex, to various Awards ceremonies around the country.

Prince Edward: 'It isn't just for the privileged few in the private schools or, indeed, just for people who have fallen off the tracks at the other end. There [is] a huge number of people in the middle there.'

Derek: 'You are in line of course to be the Duke Of Edinburgh. Does that give you a special responsibility with the awards, going into the future?'

Prince Edward: 'Yes, if they haven't thrown me out before then. It is possible.'

Derek: 'Does the Countess get involved?'

Prince Edward: 'Yes, absolutely.'

Derek: 'Would Lady Louise be sent on one of these in a few years' time?'

Prince Edward: 'Well that is up to her. Just as I never got any parental pressure, that will be up to her. Hopefully the opportunity will be there and if she wishes to take it then great! … fantastic!'

Derek: 'So finally where do you want to take these awards to internationally, and of course here in South Africa, what is your goal?'

Prince Edward: 'Well, ideally one day to make it the program of choice so at least as many young people have the opportunity to get involved and learn by having fun. What better way is there to learn to grow up and develop as an individual than by having fun? But then looking back and saying: well actually that has really made a difference to my life and to my outlook.'

Derek: 'Your Royal Highness thanks for your time and thanks for all you are doing with the awards.'

Prince Edward: 'Thank you very much for your time. Thank you.'