National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle

April 21, 2013: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge met with honored scouts as she hosted the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle. The Scouts are one of the Duchess's seven patronages.


From Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's News and Diary:

The Duchess of Cambridge has honoured the high achievements of hundreds of Scouts at Windsor Castle. Her Royal Highness beamed after being greeted at the National Review of Queen's Scouts at the castle in Berkshire by Chief Scout, adventurer and TV star Bear Grylls.

Four hundred youngsters and their families from across the UK and around the Commonwealth flocked to the prestigious annual celebration. ...

Today most of the youngsters received Queen's Scouts awards - the highest a Scout can gain - for achievements including carrying out regular community service for a year. It is also handed out to those aged 16 and 25 who have learned new skills, completed a four-day expedition in unknown terrain, taken part in a residential project and shared what they learned with their peers.

During the day, The Duchess also met youngsters who had received gallantry awards after being nominated for their bravery and heroism in their everyday lives. The Duchess of Cambridge with Chief Scout Bear Grylls as she attends the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle

The annual celebration at Windsor Castle dates back 80 years, with tens of thousands of young men and women being honoured during that time with a King's or Queen's Scout Award for their outstanding personal achievements.

Grylls said: "The Duchess is an incredible role model and she helps us show that Scouting's not just for boys. "She's also such a generous volunteer and everyone is so excited to have her in the Scouting family. Many people have followed her lead and are getting involved and enjoying the adventure."

 

Scout Training in Cumbria

The Duchess of Cambridge visited an adult scout training program at the Great Tower Scout Activity Center on the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria on a wintery Friday.

The Duchess arrived at the camp and was one of 25 adult volunteers that attended a training program.  The group then moved outside for further training in creating different types of camp fires. After a lunch break, Kate Middleton and the adults were joined by a group of youth Cub Scouts from Manchester and Cumbria. Putting their new knowledge to use the group taught the children how to make fires of their own as well as cook unleavened dough on sticks.   Kate was overheard remarking that the bread may not be the best of snacks, "it's actually not bad, if you were really desperately hungry."

According to their website, the Scouts help 400,000 youths in the UK build social and education skills and life long friendships.  The volunteers make this possible for the children and find the task rewarding.

 

Pictures: Zimbio