TWO pupils from St Swithun’s School in Winchester have attended a ceremony at Buckingham Palace to receive their gold Duke of Edinburgh Award certificates.

The girls joined more than 1,000 young people at the event in London as part of this year’s 60th anniversary celebration of the Duke of Edinburgh organisation.

Sixty celebrities assisted Prince Philip in handing out the awards and the girls were presented with their certificates by Jennie Bond, the former BBC royal correspondent.

Lydia Robinson, 18, from Alresford, and Jessica Fennell, 18, from Romsey, completed their gold expedition in the Breacon Beacons last July.

The Duke of Edinburgh awards were initiated in 1956 by the Duke of Edinburgh and as part of this year’s 60th anniversary Lydia and Jess took part in the Diamond Challenge for which participants were asked to take on their own challenge and raise at least £60 for the organisation.

For their challenge, the two girls competed in a 10-mile ‘Rough Runner’ obstacle course event at the Bereleigh Estate, near Petersfield.

Lydia said of the royal presentation: “The whole day at Buckingham Palace was amazing as the weather was great, the gardens were beautiful, and I managed to speak to Prince Philip, albeit briefly.”

Jess added: “Completing Duke of Edinburgh gold was a huge challenge but incredibly rewarding and it was such a privilege to be invited to the palace, probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”