ONE Fermanagh participant of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards has recalled how the late Prince Philip was “very nice and very interested in everyone” when she met him during a garden party to celebrate the diamond anniversary of the scheme in May, 2016.

Victoria Roberts, from Castle Archdale, received her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award in 2016 at Buckingham Palace.

She recalled how Prince Philip was very interested in part of her award, which involved camping in Windsor.

She said: “We did our residential in [a camp site in] Windsor and he called it 'his garden' and asked ‘How did you get there?’

"He was very interested, as in my group I was the only Northern Irish person there, and he was very interested as to how a group of Fermanagh girls did their expedition in Windsor.”

Reflecting on what the award scheme taught her, Victoria said: “It was excellent for team-work skills, and the volunteering was important to me.

“Some of the things I did, I never would have thought I could have done if these awards did not exist.

"Our leader, Heather Knox, was amazing and I couldn’t have completed the award without the girls on my team,” added Victoria.