Student Doctor meets Royalty at Buckingham Palace
Student Doctor, Mariella Scott recently travelled down to London to attend a prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Awards event at Buckingham Palace. After achieving a gold award, Mariella was invited to celebrate her success in the beautiful grounds of Buckingham Palace and while there, had the opportunity to speak with the Duke of Edinburgh himself, Prince Edward.
“It was a lovely way to reflect on my experiences and skills gained from completing the award – I felt extremely proud of my achievements not only in completing the award, but also in getting into and nearly completing my first year at medical school.”
Buckingham Palace Garden had been transformed into a festival-style celebration for young people, with giant deckchairs, bunting, garden games and activities. Mariella commented that that day felt particularly special because not only was it held in a beautiful setting with fantastic sunny weather, but that she also got to celebrate this achievement with the same friends she had completed her DofE challenges with.
Attendees had the chance to hear from famous DofE Award holders and other inspiring speakers, such as broadcasters BBC news presenter Clive Myrie, who spoke about how his time completing the Gold DofE award shaped his time as a foreign correspondent.
One of Mariella’s highlights from the day was getting the chance to speak to Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he walked around the main lawn outside the Palace. Prince Edward, who received his own Gold Award from his father Prince Philip at nearby St James’s Palace in 1986, congratulated attendees in a speech from the Palace’s West Terrace.
To win a gold DofE, Mariella spent 12 months improving a physical activity, honing new skills, planning and completing an expedition and residential, and volunteering at her local Oxfam Bookstore.
Ruth Marvel, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: "The young people here today have achieved something exceptional, and it is wonderful to see them celebrating together, sharing their experiences and hearing their aspirations for the future. DofE is all about proving to yourself just what you are capable of, and the young people here today have showed the world that their potential is limitless. I can’t wait to see what they go on to do next.”
Find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Awards (link).