The Earl of Wessex carries out a busy schedule of official and working engagements in the UK and overseas both in support of The Queen and the large number of charities and organisations with which he is involved.

His Royal Highness is passionate about organisations that provide opportunities for young people. 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 promoting and supporting the Award. He also presents Gold Awards to achievers across the globe.

View footage of The Earl of Wessex discussing The Duke of Edinburgh's Award:

The Earl also has a strong personal interest in the Arts and is Patron of a number of organisations within this area. These include City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, London Mozart Players, Windsor Festival, Haddo House Choral and Operatic Society, Northern Ballet, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, National Youth Orchestras of Scotland and The Orpheus Centre Trust.

As well as these patronages, The Earl is associated with a number of sporting bodies. He is Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Patron of Paralympics GB. He also serves as Patron of BadmintonScotland, The Tennis and Rackets Association and The International Real Tennis Professionals Association. His Royal Highness is also President of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

The Earl is involved with a number of City Livery Companies including The Worshipful Company of Fuellers, The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, Coopers of Glasgow, Coopers of London and The Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

The Earl of Wessex supports the work of the Armed Forces both in the United Kingdom and abroad. His Royal Highness holds a total of eight Military appointments.

In 2007 The Earl of Wessex became Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the Infantry. He regularly visits the Battalion at their base in Northern Ireland and has visited them on several occasions while on operational duties, including in Afghanistan.

His Royal Highness is Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Regiment and meets servicemen and their families whenever possible.

In 2006, The Earl was appointed Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and in 2008, Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Waddington.

The Earl has an active role in his position as Colonel-in-Chief of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, Prince Edward Island Regiment and the Saskatchewan Dragoons, all of which are based in Canada.

For a full list of The Earl of Wessex’s charities and special associations, search our online database.