Royal Visit to the USA

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

So, you all really figure the guy is going to show up? It'd be cool if he did...tho I have to admit, I'm skeptical.

-Sean

As Jock has said, baring some unforeseen last minute circumstance, HRH Prince Edward will attend the Greenville Scottish Games on May 28-29 of this year. The invitation to attend the games was extended to HRH in 2008, and preparations for his visit began in 2009. These preparations included changing the date of the games to avoid pre-existing commitments already on HRHs schedule for June of 2010.

"The Prince is attending the Games in his capacity as the chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. The Greenville Scottish Games actively supports the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and HRH will present awards to a number of young people who have qualified for either the bronze, silver, or gold award."

[wildrover]

As Jock has said, baring some unforeseen last minute circumstance, HRH Prince Edward will attend the Greenville Scottish Games on May 28-29 of this year. The invitation to attend the games was extended to HRH in 2008, and preparations for his visit began in 2009. These preparations included changing the date of the games to avoid pre-existing commitments already on HRHs schedule for June of 2010.

"The Prince is attending the Games in his capacity as the chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. The Greenville Scottish Games actively supports the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and HRH will present awards to a number of young people who have qualified for either the bronze, silver, or gold award."

Right on!

So...what are these awards?

[Jock Scot]

Right on!

So...what are these awards?

I am no expert on this.These awards go from bronze, silver and gold and they are specifically designed to test young people from about the age of thirteen to about twenty. They do good works, map reading ,cross country hikes to varying standards and things like that.The disabled are encouraged to take part with specifically designed tasks to achieve. These awards have to be earned and they are not given lightly.They are highly thought of in this country. I am sure if you googled for details there will be pages about it all.

[EagleJCS]

Right on!

So...what are these awards?

I was just reading about these awards yesterday. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (Bronze, Silver, Gold - in that order) is an award from the Scout Association. Roughly the equivalent of the Venture awards (Bronze, Gold, Sliver) in the Boy Scouts of America.

From the website:

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities, designed to support the personal and social development of young people aged 14-25, regardless of gender, background or ability. It offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time.

It is a five-Section Programme with three progressive levels:

Bronze (for those aged 14 and over)
Silver (for those aged 15 and over) and
Gold (for those aged 16 and over).

The sections involve:

Volunteering (helping other people in the local community)
Expeditions (training for, planning and completing a journey on foot or horseback, by boat or cycle)
Skills (covering almost any hobby, skill or interest)
Physical (sport, dance and fitness)
Residential (Gold Award only) (a purposeful enterprise with people not previously known to the participant)

Regarding security - I'm sure the US federal government will have a hand in the mix somewhere (as liason to the locals for example), since HRH is a high-ranking foreign dignitary. They will probably leave most of the arrangements for the "up close" stuff up to the British security folks since they're more familiar with HRH's behavior, and vice versa.