Buckingham Palace date for Holbeach and Saracen's Head young people
Two role model young people from South Holland spent a day amongst royalty and celebrities at Buckingham Palace in London
Millie Howard (19), of Saracen’s Head, and Charlie Johnson (19), of Holbeach, were in a group of more than 1,500 guests aged between 14 and 25 invited to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award presentation.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and wife Sophie, Princess Eugenie of York and Prince Michael of Kent represented the Royal Family at the ceremony, while celebrities included singer Peter Andre, ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell, actor Martin Kemp, barrister Robert "Judge" Rinder and Olympic ice dance champion Jayne Torvill.
Millie, who went to London with her mum Elaine, said: "I did my Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards when I was at University Academy Holbeach.
"My mum did her Bronze and Silver Awards so I wanted to go one better and get a Gold Award as well.
"It included 12 months of volunteering at a nature reserve for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in West Norfolk and an expedition.
Millie Howard and her mum Elaine at the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award presentations in London. Photo supplied.
"When we went to Buckingham Palace, we spent some time wandering around in the gardens which was absolutely amazing.
"I was in a group of 30 to 40 young people who were each presented with a certificate.
"Then Prince Michael came up to me and asked about the expedition which had gone very smoothly."
Charlie, an ex-Spalding Grammar School student now studying computer science at Exeter University, said: "It was a very novel experience being presented with my Gold Award at Buckingham Palace, meeting Prince Edward and a range of celebrities, such as Peter Andre, Robert Rinder, Rebecca Adlington and adventurer Lindsey Cole.
"I enjoyed hearing about their different experiences and their advice for those of us early on our careers.
"By completing my Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards over the course of four years, I have gained a variety of experience which include interpersonal skills, teamwork, communication, navigation skills (from the expeditions) and leadership."
. Both Millie and Charlie were successful in spreading out their climbs up the Duke of Edinburgh's Award rostrum over four years.
There are three levels of programme you, Bronze, Silver and Gold, which differ in the minimum length of time it takes to complete them and the challenge involved.
Each programme has four sections, volunteering, physical, skills and expedition, with the length of expedition ranging from two to four days, depending on the award.
To achieve Gold, candidates must also go away from home for five days and four nights and take part in a shared activity with people who are not known to them.
Overall, a programme can take between six and 18 months to complete, but only the Gold Award carries the incentive of an invitation to Buckingham Palace on completion.