More than 300 British Scouts receive Queen’s Scout Award at annual Windsor event

The UK Scout Association held a ceremony at Windsor Castle over the weekend to present more than 300 young people with the Queen’s Scout Award, the organisation’s highest honour.

Princess Beatrice of York, representing the Queen, and UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls led the ceremony, and were joined by Ahmed Alhendawi, the Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The event is held every year on the Sunday closest to St George’s Day. St. George is the patron saint of Scouting.

"During their time in Scouting all these young people have worked incredibly hard to learn new skills and achieve their Queen’s Scout Awards,” Grylls said. “I am so full of admiration for their spirit, grit and determination. They have served their community, led others and undertaken expeditions in the UK and around the world. As Queen's Scouts they are leading lights and an inspiration to over half a million Scouts in the UK.”

The Queen’s Scout Award is given to young men and women aged 16 to 25 for outstanding personal achievement, and service to their local communities. Among the challenges Queen’s Scouts need to complete are a camping expedition, learning a new skill or developing an existing talent, and undertaking community service.

President Barack Obama recorded a special video message for this year’s ceremony. World Scouting’s Alhendawi also spoke to the Scouts, stressing that the Movement is uniquely positioned to help create a better world.

“We live in difficult times,” the Secretary General told the Queen’s Scouts. “There are so many divisions. People are divided by race, by religion, by culture, by gender. We have to transcend these differences. And we learn how as Scouts.”

The event in Windsor Castle has been held regularly since 1934, and more than 100,000 young people have been presented with the Queen’s Scout Award since it was established.