Prince Edward Presents Gold Awards

It's day two of a royal visit to NI with His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex meeting around 50 Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award winners at a presentation ceremony in Hillsborough Castle.

Prince Edward was greeted at Hillsborough Castle by Fionnuala Cook, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Down and went on to meet Ian Webb Sheriff for County Down and Kate Thompson Director, Northern Ireland Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE).

The award winners were presented with the prestigious Gold Award marking the successful completion of a programme of personal development aimed at helping young people reach their full potential.

Each of the award winners undertook activities including community work, personal fitness, planning and completing an adventurous journey and working and living away from home.

Joining today's celebration and helping present the award certificates were Mike Nesbitt and Lynda Bryans, television presenters.

During the engagement His Royal Highness had the opportunity to meet recipients and their guests along with DofE volunteers and leaders.

Students from Victoria College in Belfast under the direction of Mrs Audrey Gillian provided a musical backdrop for the engagement.

On Thursday there were three royal engagements with HRH on the Shankill Road to visit The Spectrum Centre to celebrate the success of the Belfast Activity Centre (BAC) with their 'Youth Building Programmes'.

The Spectrum Centre opened in 2001 and was a community project realised by the Greater Shankill Partnership.

Earlier, he presented 13 inmates at Hydebank Young Offenders' Centre in Belfast with Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award certificates.

All 13 of the award winners voluntarily undertook and successfully completed the awards programme of self-development. They are now part of a group of over four million young people who have been helped by the organisation since it began in 1956.

Before the award ceremony His Royal Highness accompanied by Governor Alcock visited residential accommodation within the centre and took the opportunity to meet a number of inmates and prison staff.

Earlier, HRH visited Belfast Activity Centre (BAC), Barnet Demesne in south Belfast joining the celebrations of the organisation's 21st birthday.

See: 'Active Visit' For Prince Edward To NI

(BMcC/GK)