Regular Eddie steps into the limelight at 60! On his milestone birthday, the Duke of Edinburgh opens up on the King’s sickness, refugees in Britain… and tells college pupils: Exams aren’t every thing

It is 6pm on a moist, windy Wednesday and a really animated Duke of Edinburgh (no, not that one!) is chatting about every thing from schoolchildren’s examination outcomes to the plight of refugees.

Perched on a rickety chair in a youth centre kitchen and sipping water from a baby’s pink plastic cup, Prince Edward reveals he and his spouse, Sophie, have not too long ago visited a number of organisations supporting households who’ve come to the UK – admitting they have been ‘considerably stunned to see us there’.

He makes clear that the fashionable monarchy should embrace problems with immigration and variety of their complexity.

Our nation, he says, has lengthy been formed by the communities who’ve chosen to make it their house.

‘I am at all times intrigued that if you scratch the floor of any Brit, you discover there’s normally rather more to them than simply, you recognize, ‘Made in Britain’,’ he says. ‘So our position – being a part of the monarchy – in attempting to deliver individuals collectively, is as essential as ever, if no more so in the present day.’

He provides: ‘I believe all of us surprise how we are able to attain out to these communities who maybe do not at all times assume that this, the monarchy, is one thing for them.’ It is a relatively sudden assertion from this most cautious of royals, and one which maybe hints at his non-public passions.

Regular Eddie – a nickname given to the Duke of Kent, however one equally applicable for the late Queen’s youngest son – has spent most of his royal profession quietly toiling away, conducting a whole lot of engagements every year that hardly seem on the entrance pages.

However this weekend marks a milestone second for the low-key duke – who’s celebrating his sixtieth birthday tomorrow.

Yesterday, throughout a go to to Headingley Stadium in Leeds, Edward – who like many Windsor males is just not at all times one to indicate his emotions – appeared visibly emotional as Sophie paid tribute to her ‘darling’ husband.

The couple, who will have fun their twenty fifth anniversary in June, embraced one another lovingly after the Duchess of Edinburgh’s touching speech, wherein she praised the duke as ‘the most effective of fathers, probably the most loving of husbands and nonetheless… my finest good friend.’

Edward, who was made Duke of Edinburgh by the King final 12 months, was then introduced with a cake within the form of a ‘actual tennis’ court docket and that includes photos of himself and his spouse, whom he met via the game.

Certainly, after we sit down for an unique interview on the Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey (he’s patron of London Youth), there may be one topic the prince turns into sweetly flustered about, and that is his spouse.

‘Properly, you want a very good supportive community on this and household is extremely essential. I’m simply very, very fortunate that Sophie is a superb, sensible particular person in her personal proper,’ he tells me, smiling from ear to ear. It is value noting that he’s the one one of many late Queen’s kids by no means to have divorced.

Edward is just not, it’s truthful to say, probably the most immediately recognisable royal, however his bread-and-butter work for the household agency is turning into extra helpful than ever.

The acrimonious departures of his brother, Prince Andrew, together with Harry and spouse Meghan – to not point out His Majesty’s current most cancers prognosis – imply royal duties will more and more relaxation on the ‘youthful’ relations’ shoulders, together with these of Edward and Sophie.

However he certainly not seems to search out this position a burden. On the youth centre go to, the duke will get caught in taking part in desk tennis with the youngsters, becoming a member of them in a mixing studio and discussing the deserves of trampolining (his kids, Woman Louise, and James, Earl of Wessex, had one within the backyard.) ‘He’s extremely supportive by way of the work we do, beneficiant along with his time and makes issues occur,’ says London Youth CEO Pauline Daniyan.

It is a reminder that Edward is now almost an empty-nester, with Louise, 20, learning English Literature at St Andrews and 16-year-old James resulting from take his GCSEs this summer season.

The concept kids profit as a lot from what they do exterior the classroom as in it’s why he’s so passionate concerning the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which runs in 130 nations all over the world, with him on the helm.

He says dad and mom may be unwilling to simply accept that formal exams aren’t every thing, saying: ‘{Qualifications} will get you an interview. However they will not get you the job… It is the opposite strings to your bow.’

Some might ask why anybody ought to take heed to a prince, whose life has been cushioned by the luxurious of everlasting employment within the Agency. However Howard Williamson, professor of European Youth Coverage on the College of South Wales and a trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Worldwide Award, believes he is aware of what he’s speaking about.

He says: ‘I am not simply impressed however I’ve labored with him for years and might let you know what a basically respectable particular person he’s. He is passionate and educated about his work with younger individuals.’

It is a sentiment I hear time after time as I be a part of the prince on a day of engagements, beginning at King’s Hospital in south London, the place the Duke of Edinburgh scheme runs a volunteering programme.

Edward’s manners are wonderful, a long-term royal retainer tells me: ‘He was at all times the late Queen’s politest baby – and that is by no means modified.’

Up shut, he is the spitting picture of Prince Philip, carrying the identical turn-up trousers, however along with his mom’s elegant options. However he has his personal, virtually theatrical, means of talking. ‘Wonderful! Incredible!’ he enthuses after each dialog. He does not stand on ceremony, although, rolling up his sleeves, donning a plastic pinny and wheeling a meal trolley across the wards.

Though the prince drives throughout our day collectively, he is likely one of the few royals who typically travels by foot – and even the Tube – to work. A good friend who has holidayed with the Edinburghs tells me the couple fortunately go right down to the native Co-op to get provides.

Edward’s favorite pastime is strolling alone within the countryside along with his beloved spaniel, Mole.However he’s additionally, I’m additionally informed, a ‘demon’ BBQ-er, and might typically be discovered exterior in the dead of night at events carrying a head torch and creating ‘actually wonderful’ culinary delights – a expertise inherited from his late father.

I comment to a different good friend that the duke has misplaced a notable quantity of weight, and surprise if he has embraced a brand new health regime as he approaches his 60s.

‘I hate to bore you, however he is simply remarkably disciplined. He’s not an enormous eater or drinker and definitely not a smoker. He simply is not a pudding man,’ they are saying.

After we meet, I ask Edward about his brother the King’s well being. He smiles wanly, understandably emotional given how uncooked the information is. ‘We have been all massively grateful for the extraordinary help from everybody. I do know he has been very touched by all of it. He is doing effectively, we’re preserving our fingers crossed that all of it goes very effectively,’ he says.

Edward might not dwell life on the sting – moreover flipping burgers by torch-light – however after current occasions, Regular Eddie Mk2 may be simply what the Royal Household, and his brother, badly want.