Their Royal Highnesses Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex and Sophie Countess of Wessex met students and community members involved in the local branch of the Duke of Edinburgh awards this afternoon (Monday, 7 March 2016).

The Earl, a Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, attended a lunch at Government House hosted by Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick. Present were financial sponsors, past award recipients, past and present board members and government officials as well as Leader of the Opposition, Hon. McKeeva Bush.

Meanwhile, following her attendance at a reception and lunch at the National Gallery hosted by 100 Women in Hedge Funds, The Countess rejoined The Earl at Government House for the presentation of The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Certificate to Miss Lashonda Powell. She received a warm, flag waving welcome from young invitees from schools and youth organisations as she arrived. The Countess alighted, went over to the young people and spent time chatting with them.

At the event, after students of the Sunrise Adult Training Centre signed and sang the National Song, the Governor welcomed the gathering. Chair of the National Award Authority for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Mrs. Kathy Jackson spoke about the programme and introduced the Cayman Islands’ latest gold award recipient Lashonda Powell.

The Earl presented the award and addressed the participants, lauding all in the programme, urging them to go for more golds and challenging them to bring in more of their peers to the youth development programme which operates in 140 countries of the world.

Two clients of the Sunrise Adult Training Centre: Kanza Rose Bodden and Krysten Martin, presented The Earl and Countess with a Caymanite book-shaped sculpture, created by local sculptor Horatio Esteban and engraved with the Duke of Edinburgh programme logo. The local committee’s Mr. Daniel Lee proposed the vote of thanks.

Their Royal Highnesses chatted with the invitees and departed the Islands later this afternoon.

Photo captions: Photos by Bina Mani, GIS

The Countess of Wessex chats with Grace Christian Academy students, some of the invitees to the Duke of Edinburgh gold award certificate presentation at Government House Monday, 7 March 2016.

HRH The Earl of Wessex presented a certificate to this year’s Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award recipient Lashonda Powell. Seen here l-r: Chair of the National Award Authority are Mrs. Kathy Jackson, The Countess, The Earl, Lashonda Powell and back row Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick and Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson.

The Earl received a Caymanite sculpture presented by the Sunrise Adult Training Centre students. Here the Earl shakes Kanza Bodden’s hand after receiving the gift. Also seen are l-r: Mrs. Kathy Jackson, Krysten Martin and The Countess.