Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, on Wednesday, February 5, met with participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Kathmandu.

The program, which has been established in Nepal for ten years, has benefitted over 6,000 young people, helping them develop lifelong skills with the support of more than 500 volunteers.

At the British Embassy, the Duke awarded Gold Awards—the highest honour in the program—to nineteen young Nepali recipients, with two awards given in absentia. This prestigious achievement marks the culmination of their hard work and personal growth.

Additionally, the Duke met participants from government schools, the Scouts, SOS Children’s Villages, and underprivileged communities who benefit from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, of which Prince Edward serves as Chair of Trustees.

At the ceremony, His Royal Highness praised the awardees, saying, “Achieving your Gold Award takes courage, commitment, and tenacity – you should be exceptionally proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

Later, at a reception hosted by British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn, the Duke and Duchess met over 200 individuals who embody the strong UK-Nepal friendship, including award participants, young entrepreneurs, women’s rights activists, and others.

During the event, Sue Layden—whose father was the first director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the UK and led the first successful Everest expedition—announced a new initiative. The program will support ten young people in completing their Award expedition in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, collaborating with local schools and participating in a red panda conservation project.

The Duke and Duchess arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday, February 4, for a private visit.