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April 2007
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ROYAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCOUTING AND GUIDING MOVEMENTS

On 22 April 2007, The Queen will review the annual Queen's Scouts Parade at Windsor Castle.  2007 also marks the centenary of the Scout movement in the UK.

This month's Focus looks at Royal connections to the Scouting and Guiding movements, from members of the Royal Family who were involved as children in the organisations, to links with the Sovereign and royalty which the Scouts and Guides still enjoy today.

Numerous members of the Royal Family have enjoyed being part of the Scout and Guide movements since their inception by Robert Baden-Powell at the beginning of the last century. 

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret practising their first aid skills in 1943. They were both members of the 1st Buckingham Palace Company of Girl Guides. Princess Elizabeth can be seen wearing the badge of the swallow patrol and two white stripes, which indicate that she is patrol leader

© Press Association

The Queen and Princess Margaret
The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, was a Girl Guide and her sister, Princess Margaret, was both a Brownie and a Guide. 

The 1st Buckingham Palace Company was formed in 1937 when Princess Elizabeth joined as a Girl Guide and was elected second of the Kingfisher Patrol.

The 1st Buckingham Palace Brownie Pack was formed in the same year when Princess Margaret was enrolled as a Brownie in 'the Leprechaun Six'. The packs were made up of twenty Guides and fourteen Brownies who were children of members of the Royal Household and Palace employees.  Their headquarters was a summerhouse in the garden. 

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

Detail from a letter from The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, to her father, King George VI. She refers to dressing up with fellow Guides for 'Thinking Day' which is held each year on the 22 February

The Royal Archives copyright 2007 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Company hiked in Windsor Great Forest, learned drill and Scottish country dancing, worked for badges and enjoyed many of the usual Guide activities. Her Majesty completed the Interpreter, Swimmer, Dancer, Horsewoman, Cook, Child nurse and Needlewoman badges.

The Company closed down when the Second World War broke out and The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret consequently joined a Balmoral Company.  The  Buckingham Palace Company reopened at Windsor in 1942 and Princess Elizabeth  was elected Patrol Leader of 'the Swallow Patrol'; Princess Margaret was enrolled as a Girl Guide. 

Air raids restricted the girls to daytime camp activities but they often camped out in the grounds. 

Later that year, at the age of 16, Princess Elizabeth insisted on registering for war service and appeared at the Windsor office in her Girl Guide uniform only to be told that she was too young.

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

The Queen congratulates Scouts from across the world on attaining their  Queen's Scout Awards at Windsor Castle in 1952

© The Scout Association

As a testament to the friendships formed during her years as a Guide, two of Princess Elizabeth's bridesmaids at her wedding in 1947 were former fellow Guides, and the official wedding cake was made using ingredients given as a wedding gift by Australian Girl Guides. 

The Princess Royal
The 1st Buckingham Palace Company was reopened in May 1959, joined by the Holy Trinity Brompton Brownie pack, and The Princess Royal (as Princess Anne) was enrolled as a member of the Pixie Six.  Weekly meetings took place in either the palace garden or the schoolroom and in December 1960 the Brownies performed a nativity play in which Princess Anne played an angel.  In 1961 she was enrolled as a Girl Guide in the Kingfisher Patrol and continued to attend meetings for two years until she went to boarding school in 1963.  The Company was disbanded after the Princess left. 

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

The Queen at The World Scout Jamboree in Birmingham in 1957. A similar event will take place this year in Essex to celebrate 100 years of the Scout movement

© The Scout Association

The Duke of York
Of The Queen's sons, The Duke of York (as Prince Andrew) was both a Cub and a Scout.  In January 1968 he joined the St. Marylebone Cub Scout Pack and was enrolled in the White Six.  The Pack met weekly at Buckingham Palace until July of that year when the Prince left to go to boarding school.  In September a Cub Scout Pack was formed at Heatherdown School and Prince Andrew attended meetings during term-time.  When he was eleven, a Scout Troop was formed.

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

A letter from Lord Baden-Powell to the Private Secretary to King George V, dated 25 April 1934. Baden-Powell refers to the King's recent review of the Boy Scouts at Windsor which was an 'immense inspiration' 

The Royal Archives copyright 2007 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen's Scouts Parade
As Patron of the Scout Association, The Queen takes the salute every few years at the annual National Parade of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle.  This event has been held regularly since 1934 on the Sunday nearest to St. George's Day (23 April); St. George is the patron saint of Scouting.

The Parade is a long-standing tradition which has only been broken during the Second World War.  One thousand Queen's Scouts from across the world come together and march into the Castle Quadrangle where they are reviewed by the Sovereign. 

If Her Majesty is unable to attend, other members of the Royal Family review the Scouts; at other times the Governor of Windsor Castle or the Chief Scout may stand in.  The review is followed by a service in St. George's Chapel.  

"Scouting is all about opportunity; the opportunity to challenge yourself through adventure, meet new people, and go to new places. The Queen's Scout Award is the epitome of this", said Chief Scout, Peter Duncan.

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

The Queen opens Baden-Powell House in 1961, an International Scout hostel, conference centre and meeting place for Scouts and Guides from all over the world

© The Scout Association

Recipients of the Queen's Scout Award have had to undertake a variety of tasks: community service, an expedition, learn a new skill, complete a residential project and improve on a physical activity.

Helen Dyer is a Queen's Scout.  She said of her Award: "My Queen's Scout Award has been an amazing experience; I've done conservation work in the Arctic looking at the melting of the ice caps, learnt yoga, developed my photography, took up kayaking and so much more... There's no chance to be bored!"

The Queen's Guide Award
In 1946 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother agreed to the introduction of the Queen's Guide Award, the highest accolade a Guide can attain.  The Award, which is open to Guides across the world, recognises and rewards outstanding dedication, skills and commitment in Guiding and encourages young women aged 14 to 25 to play an active part in their local and wider communities.  As President of Girlguiding UK, The Countess of Wessex attends an annual ceremony at which recipients of the Award are presented with a unique brooch.

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

The Queen meets local Scouts and Guides during a visit to Brisbane, Australia in 2002

© Press Association

Chief Guide, Liz Burnley, said: "The presentation of the Queen's Guide Award is a very special event. Since taking up office, our President has personally presented every Queen's Guide with her brooch, which shows how highly she regards their achievements".

Royal Patronage
2007 marks the centenary of the Scout movement in the United Kingdom. 

The Scout Association first received royal patronage in 1910 under King George V.  The Queen became Patron in June 1952 and continues to play an active role in the organisation. 

Since 1969 Her Majesty has been Patron of the Scout Association of Australia.  The Duke of Kent has been President of the Scout Association in the UK since 1975. 

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother meets Brownies at the Guide Association's Commonwealth Chief Commissioners' reception at Marlborough House in 1999

© Press Association

The Royal Family also has a long history of supporting Brownies and Girl Guides. In 1937 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (then Queen Elizabeth) became Patron of the Girl Guides Association and The Queen (as Princess Elizabeth) was made Vice-Patron in 1944. 

The Queen's interest in Guiding has continued throughout her reign and since her accession Her Majesty has served as Joint Patron (alongside Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) and latterly as Patron of the Girl Guides.  In 1965 Princess Margaret became President and served in the role until her death in 2002.  The Princess was succeeded by The Countess Of Wessex who became President of Girlguiding UK in 2003.

Focus: the Scouting and Guiding movements

The Countess of Wessex, who is the current President of Girlguiding UK, attends a presentation ceremony for those who have successfully attained The Queen's Guide Award

© Press Association

The Queen has been Patron of the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association since 1979.
 
In 2007, the Chief Guide said of Royal support for Girlguiding UK:

"We work with 500,000 girls and young women across the UK and the involvement of the Royal Family in our work brings us additional external recognition, as well as encouragement for our 100,000 adult volunteers.  We value very highly the support and active engagement of the Royal Family in the work we do".

Special Royal Collection offer for Scouts
To celebrate the centenary of the Scouting movement, the Royal Collection is offering a special discounted price for the Summer Opening of the State Rooms to pre-booked Scout groups.

Visit the Royal Collection's website to find out more (opens in new window).

 

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