Rod Gilbert, Greg Belton, Prince Edward and Mark Standish
Prince Edward with George and Georgia Stamas
Prince Edward flanked by Mark Standish and Catherine Saxton	Liz Pearce and Jacob Clemente of Broadway’s Billy Elliot
Miss America with George and Georgia Stamas
The Prince and his fans

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD
Royal Family Presents Youth
With A Hand Up, Not Handout

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RINCE EDWARD, Earl of Wessex, presided over a gala dinner in June at the Pierre Hotel in New York to benefit the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award-Young Americans’ Challenge.

The award was founded in 1956 by Prince Edward’s father, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is the Queen’s husband. The aim is to empower young people, ages 14 to 25, to develop special skills and contribute to community service in 132 countries. There are 3,000 participants in the United States where Josh Randle is the national executive director

"The award gives young people the opportunity to succeed in life," Prince Edward said. "My father still keeps an eye on it. I just do all the traveling."

Royal Bank of Canada is a major supporter and Mark Standish, president and co-CEO of RBC Capital Markets, served as emcee of the evening. He gave full credit for the evening’s success to the indefatigable Catherine Saxton. The room burst into applause for high society’s paramount publicist.

Standish said that the award challenges young people "to work toward their ambitions and succeed."

Randle said self-reliance, commitment and service to community are prime factors in earning the award. He presented Fred Obala of Uganda, a former child soldier who overcame his dire circumstances and ultimately earned a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Randle also introduced Elisee Etienne of the Doe Fund, and Teresa Scanlon Miss America 2011, both of whom are working on the requirements for a U.S. Duke of Edinburgh Award.

He noted that Teresa, 17, is the youngest Miss America in its 70-year history.

"I voted for her!" exclaimed a proud Marilu Henner who was a judge at the contest last January in Las Vegas.

At this royal event Miss America 2011 was the only one who wore a crown! She was beaming with unrestrained pride as Prince Edward reached out for her hand.