The National Day of Celebration and Achievement is held annually to acknowledge all those who have attained the King’s Scout Award, the highest achievement for Explorers and Scout Network members.
Usually hosted on the Sunday nearest to St. George’s Day, the special occasion sees all King’s Scout Award holders and invited guests to join the Chief Scout and other dignitaries to recognise their achievements in a parade around the Quadrangle in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
This year’s event was attended by Scout Association Joint President, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and Chief Scout Dwayne Fields.
Berkshire is very proud of all our Scouts who gained their King’s Scout Award in the past year: Christopher Faulkner, Andrew Tott, Oliver Woodcock, Tim Hill, Emily Hemsley, Georgina Hill, Harrison Saunders, Sophie Remillard, Archie Bourne, Thomas Berry, and Joshua Hughes.
We invited Chris Faulkner to reflect on his experience from a special day.
On a bright, sunny morning at Victoria Barracks, I joined over 350 other King’s and Queen’s Scouts from across the UK, including seven of us from Berkshire, for the Day of Celebration and Achievement. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and pride. We were split into our sections and immediately got to work practicing marching and drill commands, ensuring we were perfectly in sync for the big day ahead.
After honing our drill, we stayed at the barracks for a full dress rehearsal. It was our chance to put all the pieces together — polishing movements, commands, and timings — ready for the prestigious parade that awaited us. Afterwards, we broke for lunch and spent some precious time with our guests who had come to share in this incredible milestone.
Later, we gathered at the Pug Yard for a final briefing from the event leader, nerves and excitement steadily building. Then came the moment: we paraded with our peers into the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle — a part so special that even tourists never see it. Stepping into that historic space was simply breathtaking.
In two ranks, we awaited the arrival of the Duke of Kent, who was celebrating 50 years as joint president of the Scouts — an incredible achievement. After welcoming him, we were inspected by some very distinguished guests: Dwayne Fields, Tim Peake, and others. It was truly inspiring to meet people like the Chief Scout and Tim Peake — real trailblazers who took the time to speak with as many of us award recipients as possible, showing a genuine interest in our journeys.
Following the inspection, we marched past the Duke of Kent and made our way into the majestic St George’s Chapel for a moving service led by the Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth. Waiting for us on each seat was a small envelope, part of a beautifully thought-out keepsake activity designed by four previous King’s Scout Award recipients who made up the service team.
Inside the envelope were the pieces to create a keyring, each part symbolizing an element of our journey: We started with a fleur de lis charm, symbolizing our membership in the worldwide Scouting movement and the foundation of our journey. Next was a logo brick bead, representing our personal development and the skills we built along the way. Then came a world bead, symbolizing the community support that helped us reach this point, and reflecting on how our own contributions have helped our local and Scouting communities grow.
After a moment of reflection, Helen Glover — Olympian, mother, and inspirational speaker — took to the lectern. Hearing her story of resilience and determination, from picking up an oar at 21 to winning Olympic medals and balancing motherhood and elite sport, was deeply motivating.
We then added a smiley face bead, symbolizing the importance of positivity and resilience in overcoming challenges.
Finally, we reflected on those who inspired us — leaders, friends, and fellow Scouts — and how we might now go on to inspire others. To represent this, we added a ring to complete the keyring, symbolizing the full circle of Scouting and our role in continuing its legacy.
After crafting our keepsake, we renewed our Scout Promise together, led by Dwayne Fields. It was a powerful reminder of the values we all live by, made even more special as we witnessed the Duke of Kent being honoured for his extraordinary 50 years of service to Scouting.
Before leaving the chapel, we paused at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, a poignant moment of reflection on her lifelong service to our country and Scouting.
Gathering once more on the Horseshoe Cloister, we received a final address from the Chief Scout, who congratulated us all and extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who had helped us on our journey. After a final parade, we clapped the colour party as they marched past, proud to be part of such a significant tradition.
To cap off a truly unforgettable day, we were presented with a special occasion badge — the first ever given for the Windsor Day of Celebration. Then it was time for celebration photos, hugs with guests, and reflecting on an incredible achievement with friends old and new.
Windsor wasn’t just a celebration; it was a reminder of what Scouting stands for, the strength it fosters in us, and the future we are all helping to build. A day I will never forget.