HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to Visit New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia to support the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
New York City, USA – April 28, 2025 – His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh is set to embark on a significant visit to New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in support of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in the USA.
During his visit, Prince Edward will engage in a series of key activities with the Award, a global framework for non-formal education and learning, which challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements, and make a difference in their world:
- Meeting with Global and Domestic Leaders: HRH will attend a tea hosted by the British Consul General to New York and Ambassador to the United Nations, where he will meet leaders in education and youth programmes.
- New York Junior League: HRH will meet leaders of the New York Junior League, a prominent volunteering organization.
- Newark School Visit: HRH will visit Science Park High School in Newark and meet with young people participating in the Award from eight schools across the District.
- Philadelphia School Visit: HRH will visit Constitution High School in Philadelphia and meet students and senior leaders from the School District of Philadelphia.
- Youth Programmes in Philadelphia: HRH will visit youth programmes such as Mural Arts and Philadelphia Youth Basketball, and meet young participants from Outward Bound School Philadelphia.
- Educators Roundtable: HRH will take part in an educators roundtable at Temple University with leaders from national and local education and youth organisations.
A Significant Moment For Youth Programmes In The USA
Prince Edward’s visit will focus on building partnerships to take the world-renowned non-formal education Award to thousands more young people across the United States.
His Royal Highness’s visit comes as education and youth leaders grapple with preparing young people for a world where rapid technological change is a constant, and where formal education is not necessarily engaging all their learners or preparing young people to go out and face the challenges of the workplace and life in a world of rapid change.
Rising to the challenge, a new US Award leadership team is seeking to accelerate expansion, and the visit will support forging new partnerships with major school districts, large employers, and nationwide youth movements to make the Award a new cornerstone in American youth achievement.
Suzanne Currie, Chief Executive Officer of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the USA said: “His Royal Highness’s visit to New York, and schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia, will showcase the powerful impact of the Award on young people, and I hope that these examples will demonstrate to schools across all 50 states the potential we unlock when we take learning outside the classroom.”
Unique Positioning
Founded in 1956 by His Royal Highness’s father, Prince Philip, The late Duke of Edinburgh, the Award is unique in its broad appeal. Today, young people are taking on the challenge of the Award in a growing number of public schools, youth programmes, workplaces and programmes for under-served young people, including juvenile detention centres, special educational schools and orphanages. The Award unites them all in recognising their achievements.
The Award is pursued by more than a million young people across 120 countries and has been running globally for almost 70 years. It is recognised by employers and educators as a distinctive achievement, with young people building determination, resourcefulness, creativity, and community connection through its four components: Skills, Physical Activity, Volunteering, and an Adventurous Journey.
The framework of the Award has not changed in that time, but the qualities young people develop in taking on the challenge of Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are proving timeless in preparing young people to grow up and thrive.
In some countries, like the UK, one in seven 14-24 year olds pursues the Award. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA is focused on building broad appeal and broad partnerships to make the Award available to young people right across the 50 states.
John Danielson, Chair of the US Award’s board said “In my decades of leadership in national education policy, I have seen how non-formal education provides a significant boost to the learning outcomes for all young people. Achieving a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award represents a significant achievement and transforms the confidence, capability and creativity of young people. I hope His Royal Highness’s visit provides a catalyst for education and youth leaders who share our ambition for American youth in every state in the country to deliver the Award in their school or community.”
For media inquiries, please contact: Andrew Yingling, Program Officer at The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA: ayingling@usaward.org 814-768-8450