Duke of Edinburgh to visit the United States and Canada

Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke of Edinburgh is heading to the United States and Canada at the end of this month. 

Prince Edward will be heading to the United States later this month to celebrate the relationship between the US and the UK, with a ‘particular focus on shared interests around youth empowerment and opportunity, and the arts.’ Following the American visit, the Duke will then travel north to Canada in support of The Duke of Edinburgh International Award Canada.

Later this month, Prince Edward will depart the UK for New York City to meet with various representatives of the city’s cultural sector and join a roundtable at BNY on the workforce challenges facing both the two countries, discussing how employers and educators can work together to ensure young people have the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in an increasingly innovation- and technology-driven economy. A gala dinner is also scheduled, presented by the American Friends of St. James’s Piccadilly, of which the Duke is patron.

The Duke of Edinburgh will then head to Baltimore to mark a special moment for a high school. Western High School – the oldest all-girls public high school in the United States — is becoming a new Duke of Edinburgh International Award partner school. To mark the occasion, Prince Edward will visit to meet students and educators as they prepare for their first cohort to embark on the Award USA journey, as one of seven Baltimore high schools partnering with the International Award.

Founded by the Duke of Edinburgh’s late father, Prince Philip, over 70 years ago, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a globally recognised youth achievement program that empowers young people ages 14–24 to set ambitious goals, challenge themselves, and make a lasting impact.

A separate visit is scheduled for Washington, DC, where the Duke will attend celebrations recognising America 250 — the U.S.’s 250th anniversary of independence. The Duke will visit Mount Vernon to tour the new education centre, meet supporters and historians, and lay a wreath at the tomb of George Washington.

The British Ambassador’s Residence will host the annual King’s Birthday Party, where the Duke will join guests from the arts, heritage and education sectors to celebrate the US-UK relationship. The Duke of Edinburgh will also present Gold Awards at a special ceremony at the residence. The Award USA serves young people in all 50 US states, with a growing network of 78 partners delivering the Awards across the country.

On 2 October, in Canada, the Duke of Edinburgh will visit the Lassonde Art Trail in Toronto, followed by further engagements in support of The Duke of Edinburgh International Award Canada.

Prince Edward will meet with educators, Award providers, and students at an Experiential Education Gathering at Queen’s Park. This follows the recent announcement that the Ontario Ministry of Education will be expanding access to the Award across schools in the Province.