The Countess of Wessex cycled from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace, London in support of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in its 60th year. The Countess, who is a long term supporter of the DofE,  cycled the 445 miles from Edinburgh to London over seven days. The Countess undertook the ride as her ‘Diamond Challenge’ – a special initiative marking the 60th anniversary of the DofE.

She was greeted by her family, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, as she arrived at Buckingham Palace, the completion of the challenge.

The Duke of Cambridge is to gave a keynote address at Time For Change, an important multi-city event taking place on the eve of one of the most crucial international conferences on the protection of endangered species in many years. Time For Change is being organised by the conservation charity, Tusk, of which His Royal Highness is Royal Patron.

The Duke will speak at The View from The Shard in London, with other contributors taking part via satellite link-up from Tokyo and Johannesburg. The entire event will be live streamed. The aim is to draw global attention to the continuing threat to many of the world’s species from the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), and the need to maintain momentum in tackling the issue.

Time For Change will take place as government delegates from all over the world gather in South Africa for the 17th meeting of parties to the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Prince Harry visited Aberdeen for a day of engagements on Tuesday 20th September 2016. The visit, which includes three community based social action projects, will give Prince Harry an insight into the valuable work that is being done in support of young people in Aberdeen.

The focus of the day was on mentoring and the importance of sport as a means for social development, with programmes delivered through a network of local partnerships. The visit further developed Prince Harry’s understanding in these areas and provide an opportunity to learn about the Scotland-based work of two organisations with which he has an existing connection: The Diana Award and Sported.

Throughout the day, Prince Harry met a range of people who are involved in delivering the programmes and those who are taking part in activities designed to transform their lives and the communities in which they live.

This was Prince Harry’s first official visit to Aberdeen. He was delighted to be visiting and enjoyed his day immensely. His engagements included:

The Diana Award Mentoring training day at Mackie Academy 

 A peer to peer programme which gives young people the skills to effectively support and mentor a group of younger students

Streetsport (supported by Sported) at Robert Gordon University 

 An initiative of the Denis Law Legacy Trust which delivers sport and creative activities with the aim of reducing youth crime and anti-social behaviour

Transition Extreme Sports (supported by Sported) 

 A youth charity that uses extreme sports, art and music to encourage young people to take an active role in their own personal development

As part of their Heads Together campaign, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Stewards Academy in Harlow, Essex, to find out more about the pressures faced by young people when they are going through big changes in their lives, and learn about the support from peers and parents that can help them get through these changes.

Big changes can affect people’s mental health and wellbeing and in young people can be a trigger for mental health problems. Research shows that a fifth of children will experience a mental health problem by the time they are eleven and that half of the mental health problems suffered by adults are established by the age of 14. Currently less than half of parents talk to their children about mental health. Heads Together is going back to school to show real examples of the value of support from fellow students, teachers and parents in helping young people through these changes.

During their visit to Stewards Academy, Their Royal Highnesses joined a lesson on ‘big change’ run by a small number of students involved with the school’s mentor scheme in which older students support the new joiners in their first year of school. They then joined the school’s assembly where they heard speeches and performances from students on the topic of coping with big changes. The Duke of Cambridge will also make a short speech.

Their Royal Highnesses were escorted by the Academy’s Head Girl and Head Boy as they crossed the school quad which will be filled with pupils. Their Royal Highnesses met with a small number of parents of students from the school to discuss how parents and carers can encourage their children to talk about big changes in their lives. Heads Together will be producing a Back to School guide to help parents have these conversations.

Stewards Academy is one of the schools supported by Place2Be, one of the team of charities brought together for the Heads Together campaign being spearheaded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to change the conversation on mental health from shame to support. Place2Be has been an integral part of the support network available to pupils at the Academy for several years.

The Duke of Cambridge visited one of London’s largest youth centres Caius House on Wednesday 14 September.

Caius (“Keys”) House takes its name from Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge, after a group of its graduates founded a boys club on the site in 1887. Since then, the charity has grown to become one of the largest of its kind in the capital, welcoming on average 500 young people between the ages of eight and 21 each week. Caius House aspires to go beyond providing conventional youth centre activities, and instead brings the local community together by helping young people bridge the educational and life skills gap between childhood and adulthood.

In September 2014, Caius House opened its new state-of-the-art youth centre on the organisation’s original site in Battersea, which now offers young people from the surrounding community a multitude of activities to get involved with, as well as offering facilities including a music studio, fitness and dance suites, sports hall and ‘youth zone’. The organisation also provides a wide range of services and targeted programmes to nurture and progress each young person’s individual skills and talents, and offers support for their social and educational needs, and emotional and mental wellbeing.

During his visit The Duke saw Caius’ new first-rate facilities, and learn more about the programmes the centre offers to local young people. His Royal Highness will met a number of the children and teenagers who regularly use and benefit from Caius’ services, and will unveil a commemorative plaque.

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh visited Hamilton and Inches Edinburgh where The Queen unveiled a plaque. They also attended Musselburgh Racecourse and took in some racing and The Queen presented the Musselburgh Bi-Centenary Cup to the owners of Livella Fella in the winners enclosure.