A touching gift for Prince Edward as he follows in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II

The Duke of Edinburgh is currently on an important overseas visit but amidst the diplomacy came a touching moment that linked him to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

During his visit to Turkey, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the UK and Turkey work to develop trade relations and defence. The rare meeting of a member of the British Royal Family, and the Turkish President comes on the heels of a visit by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

While in the country, Prince Edward visited Istanbul’s Kabataş High School, one of Turkey’s most prestigious educational institutions. During the two-hour visit, he observed how students are participating in the International Duke of Edinburgh Award Program. The award helps to inspire 14 to 24-year-olds in their dreams and celebrate their achievements and the difference they make in the world.

In addition to seeing the exhibits, students held a performance for the Duke and he even played table tennis with one student. The visit makes him the second member of the royal family to visit the school after his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

To commemorate the visit, school principal Muharrem Bayrak gave Edward a gift with photos from his mother’s 2008 visit, including her signature in the guestbook. Before he left, he also left his mark on the school’s guestbook and took a moment to look at the memorial book related to the February earthquakes in the southern part of the country.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was established in 1956 by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The program is in more than 130 countries and Turkey joined the program in 1995.