Exclusive interview with HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex with SKY News

9 October 2005 - for the 50th Anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards

News Reader: It is 50 years since the Duke of Edinburgh Awards began.  But the charity that has had its problems over the years, is struggling with the image that it is only for privileged children.  The award's trustee, the Earl of Wessex has spoken exclusively to SKY royal correspondent, Katherine Witty.

Witty: This grammar school in Buckinghamshire has 60 going the award.  Keeping people motivated is an important part of the Earl's work as the trustee, and he knows what he is talking about.

Witty: When you meet young people, do you tell them about your experience with the gold award, do you use it as a motivational tool?  Or is it something you can hardly forget about?

Edward: No, no.  You can never forget about your award.  No, once you've done it, it's there.  You are never going to forget those experiences.  And it snowed on our expedition, which funnily enough, I must say, was preferable to rain, you don't get so wet.

Witty: But the experience sowed a seed.  Prince Edward has been involved in the award ever since and he denies that the Duke's name is going to be dropped from the Awards.

Edward: The Duke of Edinburgh is still, still very much the patron and founder.  He still hands out all the Gold Awards in the UK.  I think that he is amazed that its been going for so long as it has.  And probably doesn't want, necessarily, to reminded that he started it 50 years ago. [Edward laughs]

Witty: Prince Philip gave out the first awards in 1959 rewarding hard work and enterprise away from schoolwork.  Pupils can choose what they want to do for the three levels - bronze, silver and gold, but it requires mastering a skill, an expedition and volunteer work.

Edward: I made the big mistake of doing the award myself.  I, actually, made a second mistake.  Most of my career in the award is actually a serious of mistakes, and I never learnt from those.  I was asked to put together a group of young people to raise money for the award.  And I rather shocked my father by presenting him with a cheque for £ 600 000, big mistake.  He must have thought, "Oh, his rather good at this." [Edward laughs]

Witty: It is partially due to the Earl's commitment and enthusiasm that, his joking aside, that the award now operates in 114 countries.  The difficulty certainly in the United Kingdom, is that the award still had an image problem.

Edward: The image of the rucksacks and the hairy knees.  Once you get pass that images, once you get past this white middle-class club image,  which regrettably is still there.  Once you get pass that, people realise that this is something, that is doing huge and really positive work, in all sorts of communities and in all the world.

Witty: And presumably you will take over the role eventually, entirely, in time?  Is that what you are planning to do?

Edward: As I, always, tell my father, 'its got your name, you're stuck with it.' [Edward laughs]

Witty: But you'll have the title of Duke of Edinburgh...(Edward interrupts)

Edward:   Depending on the sovereign's wishes.  Yes, that has been put forward.  But, so, I've been doing it for a long while, they going to have to look forward, at the younger generation that are stepping forward.  I find myself getting further and further away from my experiences and [what] the younger people are doing today.

Witty: That's your excuse.  [Edward laughs]

Witty: He says he does get a buzz out of helping youngsters.  The challenge will be to keep the awards interesting and relevant for the next 50 years and beyond.