PUPILS of The Queen's School Chester travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards on Thursday.

The nine girls – Kate Harrison, Zoe Thornton-Reid, Elizabeth Wood-Bowyer, Fiona Edge, Harriet Wyatt, Jake Greer, Gabriella Ball and Emmelia Allen – had completed a plethora of activities and completed their Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards with Edsential Community Interest Company.

Activities included cadets, karate, rowing, pool lifesaving, gyrocopting and acting.

They also volunteered at kennels, care homes and at science exhibits across Cheshire West, and undertook residential courses in engineering at university, Operation Smile in Rome and air cadet leadership.

The breadth of activities undertaken by the girls truly demonstrates enormous levels commitment and tenacity, paving their way to a prosperous future with a globally recognised and revered award.

Edsential CIC had 113 young people representing 14 different youth groups and schools attend the award ceremony at Buckingham Palace.