Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, is set to visit Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday as part of a two-day trip aimed at recognizing youth education initiatives in the city.
The visit will also commemorate the historical ties between the United States and Great Britain.
This marks Prince Edward’s third visit to Philadelphia, having previously visited the city in 2012 and 2018.
As a working royal, the Duke focuses on promoting the benefits of nonformal education and advocating for the arts, heritage, and conservation.
His visit will begin with an event at the Benjamin Rush Garden, where he will celebrate the Bicentennial Bell, a gift from Great Britain and Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in July 1976 for the American Bicentennial.
The Benjamin Rush Garden was recently refurbished in preparation for the 2026 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the bell has been publicly displayed since last year.
The Independence Historical Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historical sites such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, is organizing the dedication ceremony.
Tom Caramanico, executive director of the trust, expressed excitement about the royal visit, stating, “We were excited to have a member of the Royal Family come to dedicate the garden and the new location of the bell.
When it was in the bell tower, when it was first given to us in 1976, you couldn’t see it.
Now, you can see it and you can see the inscription on the bell.
It really is beautiful.”
In addition to the dedication, Prince Edward will participate in an awards ceremony for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, an initiative founded in 1956 by his father, Prince Philip.
This global youth program aims to foster personal development through community service, outdoor activities, sports, and creative endeavors such as education in music and art.
Currently, the program engages over 1.3 million youth across 130 countries, recognizing their achievements with medals upon reaching specific milestones.
Notable alumni of the program include valedictorians at distinguished universities and acclaimed actors such as Hugh Jackman and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Suzanne J. Currie, CEO of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award for the United States, shared, “We think it builds tremendous habits and great leadership skills.
Having that badging on their curriculum is a very high certification of how well a student has done in terms of being habit-forming, stick-to-it-iveness, and so on.
And it’s an incredible amount of fun.”
On Wednesday, Prince Edward will present the prestigious award to teenagers from the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, a nonprofit organization that promotes active learning expeditions.
This school is one of 34 U.S. programs licensed to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, and it was founded by one of Prince Philip’s teachers, Kurt Hahn.
Jennifer Raymond, a mentor at the school, expressed pride in the students’ growth, stating, “Seeing the students where they are now from where they started, I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ it’s like the fruits of one’s labor and the hard work.
To see them at the end is amazing.”
Prince Edward’s itinerary also includes a visit to Constitution High School in Center City, which recently enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award program.
Jermaine Dawson, deputy superintendent for academic services at the Philadelphia School District, emphasized the program’s impact, saying, “It is giving our students an opportunity to become true, greater citizens within their larger community, to think about a world beyond themselves, to really become the champions of that and to take on the ownership of that, and then to turn around and to give back and to contribute to the larger community around them.”
In the latter part of his visit, Prince Edward will tour Philadelphia Youth Basketball, an organization that focuses on youth development through basketball alongside personal growth.
Additionally, he will meet with faculty and staff at Temple University to discuss themes of nonformal education and learning.
Prior to his time in Philadelphia, Prince Edward is scheduled to meet with educational and community service leaders in New York, as well as visit a school in Newark, New Jersey, where he will interact with participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program.
image source from：https://whyy.org/articles/prince-edward-philadelphia-bell-honor-students/
