A young woman from Doncaster has played a key role in selecting The Duke of Edinburgh's Award's 'Youth Without Limits' rose, a floral tribute that will help provide thousands of young people with life-changing opportunities. Alexandra Idle-Crane, an 18-year-old Youth Ambassador for the charity, participated in a top-secret meeting at Harkness Roses' nursery in Hitchin to choose the commemorative rose.
Rose Launch at Chelsea Flower Show
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) unveiled its 'Youth Without Limits' rose at the Chelsea Flower Show this week, marking its debut with a special performance from singer and DofE Gold Award holder Natalie Rushdie. She captivated guests with a rendition of Edith Piaf's 'La Vie En Rose' against a stunning floral backdrop.
The rose, featuring vibrant shades of orange and pink, was designed and cultivated by Philip Harkness, Chairman and 'Rose-Grower-in-Chief' at Harkness Roses. The winning design was selected by Alexandra, alongside fellow Youth Ambassador Lucy Marshall from Bromley, and Gillian Watson, 85, from Birmingham, who was among the first girls to achieve a Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the 1950s.
Symbolism and Impact
The 'Youth Without Limits' rose, cultivated by Harkness Roses in support of the DofE, will help give thousands of young people the chance to work towards a life-changing DofE Award, building key skills for their future. Alexandra, who helped choose the rose at the secret meeting, said: 'My mum and my gran are avid gardeners. I've always spent time around their beautiful flowers, so to get to select the DofE's 70th anniversary rose is a real honour.' She added: 'The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has changed through the years, and everybody's DofE story is different. This rose changes colour over time and adapts to its environment, which we felt represents the DofE journey and how we adapt to the challenges we face.'
Alexandra's DofE Journey
Reflecting on her own DofE Award journey, Alexandra, who completed her Silver and Gold Awards through Hill House School in Auckley, said: 'DofE is so relevant to young people today because it helps ensure that young people are out in nature, away from screens, offering a challenge outside of the classroom. It made me a lot more confident and resilient than I would have been if I'd constantly been in a classroom.'
Historic Archive Footage
To mark the occasion, the charity is sharing historic archive footage from 'Design for Living,' an early promotional film for the Award targeted at girls, which showcases the broad range of activities they could experience through their DofE, including floristry. Gardening has soared in popularity among young people as a DofE Skill and Volunteering activity, thanks to its many benefits for wellbeing and positive impact on communities. Between 2021 and 2026, nearly 9,000 young people undertook horticulture activities for their DofE Skills section, while nearly 41,000 DofE participants volunteered in environment and urban conservation.
Prince Philip's Legacy
As a lifelong advocate for young people, HRH Prince Philip established The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in 1956 for the 'balanced development' of young people's character. The DofE charity has been equipping and empowering millions of young people from all communities to build the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to make the most out of life ever since.
Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, said: 'Gardening and looking after green spaces have always been popular with young people working towards their DofE Awards, helping to not only boost their health and well-being but to support the development of a huge range of essential skills, from planning and creativity to teamwork and resilience. As the DofE charity turns 70, we want every young person, whatever their background, to be able to access meaningful enrichment opportunities so they can build confidence, develop essential skills and give back to their communities. By purchasing the 'Youth Without Limits' rose, anyone with a passion for horticulture will be helping us remove financial barriers to participation and set many more young people up for success in life and work.'
Global Reach
Since its conception in 1956, the DofE has reached over 15.5 million young people globally, with over 8.8 million young people having started a DofE Award in the UK, enough people to fill Wembley Stadium 98 times. In 2026, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award charity remains as committed as it was 70 years ago to supporting young people's development.
Philip Harkness, Chairman and 'Rose-Grower-in-Chief' at Harkness Roses, said: 'It was a joy to meet Alexandra at our rose selection day. Anything that gets young people involved in nature, horticulture and plants is so important for wellbeing and the future of the planet. So, anything we can do to help share that message and involve young people has got to be our number one priority.'
The 'Youth Without Limits' rose, supporting The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, will launch at Chelsea Flower Show 2026. £5 from every purchase goes to the DofE charity. Purchase online today at www.roses.co.uk/youth-without-limits.
