The Earl of Wessex carries out a full schedule of official engagements in support of The Queen, and a growing number of charitable and other organisations with which he is actively involved.
His programme during the year revolves around:

- Working visits overseas, mainly in support of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and occasionally at the request of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Government of a Realm, or the Commonwealth Games Federation.

- Work as a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in UK, Trustee of the International Award Foundation, and Chairman of the International Council of the International Award Association (which operates in 126 countries around the world). This involves at least 10 full days of formal meetings as well as numerous other subsidiary meetings and office calls by the Chief Executives, Directors and other Trustees, and the time needed to prepare for meetings.

- Visits to every part of the United Kingdom at the request of Lord Lieutenants, charities and other organisations. Such visits over the year will cover the whole spectrum of enterprise and initiative involving every aspect of life in the country, and often include an operational activity with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at a school, college or youth club.

- Attending functions from official receptions and dinners at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, to prize-giving ceremonies and award presentations, to events, lunches, receptions and dinners to support specific charities, and attending performances by companies of which he is patron.

- Attending working meetings with charities, including sitting on the Charity Committee of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, and receiving new Chairman of Trustees and Chief Executives on handover of appointment.

- Visiting the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, regiments and air stations of which he is Colonel or Air Commodore, and receiving new Commanding Officers on handover of appointment.

In 2008 His Royal Highness carried out in excess of 325 engagements in the UK and overseas.

The Earl's three great interests are young people, the arts, and sport, which are reflected in both his public role and private life.

Organisations that provide opportunities for young people are especially important to His Royal Highness. He has been deeply committed to the work of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme ever since he achieved his Gold Award in 1986. His duties as a United Kingdom and International Trustee mean that he travels widely in Britain and overseas.

His Royal Highness is also associated with a number of sporting bodies. He is Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, and he also serves as Patron of the Scottish Badminton Union.

He also holds the following military appointments:
Royal Honorary Colonel, Royal Wessex Yeomanry (UK);
Commodore-in-Chief, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (UK);
Patron, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association (UK);
Colonel in Chief, Saskatchewan Dragoons (Canada);
Royal Colonel, 2nd Battalion, the Rifles (UK);
Colonel in Chief, Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (Canada).