Duke of Edinburgh admits he forgets his title as he remembers ‘extraordinary’ father

“[The Duchess of Edinburgh is] critical, absolutely critical. She’s been an absolutely brilliant rock and I’m incredibly lucky that I found Sophie and that she found me,” said the Duke. “Hopefully we’ve been a really brilliant partnership. We’re very lucky, we’ve got two, of what we would think are particularly brilliant children, who are forging such different paths for themselves. I think that’s also equally fascinating.”

Prince Edward also discussed the achievements of young people recognised by This is Youth – a new initiative by the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which includes prizes such as Planet Protector of the Year.

The Duke said: “[We are] trying to illuminate the fact that the award is more than just expeditions and walking up and down mountains and things like that. There’s far more to it than that.

“So, if we can just shine a bit of a light on people who have discovered a passion somewhere else, and a purpose somewhere else, whether that’s through the environment, or developing a skill somewhere, or pursuing a particular physical activity, or whatever it is… Lila was such a brilliant first recipient of that award. The brilliant thing about it is that it’s about young people being asked the question, ‘What is it that you want to go and do?’.”

The interview came as the King appointed his brother Edward to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle on the occasion of his 60th birthday, along with Professor Baroness Black of Strome, Baroness Helena Kennedy of The Shaws and Professor Sir Geoff (Godfrey) Palmer.

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland

*Watch the full interview with Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday 10th March at 9:30am on ITV1 and ITVX.