A Royal Milestone: King Charles Honoured with the Rare Green Blue Peter Badge at Dumfries House
It isn’t every day that a King adds a new medal to his collection, but this one is arguably the most prestigious in the eyes of any British schoolchild. On a crisp Earth Day 2026, His Majesty The King was officially welcomed into an elite circle of environmental advocates, receiving the legendary Green Blue Peter Badge in honor of a lifetime spent championing the natural world.
The setting couldn’t have been more fitting: the lush grounds of Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland. Serving as the headquarters for The King’s Foundation (work which champions sustainable communities, environmental education, traditional skills and working in harmony with nature) the estate became a makeshift film set for a special edition of the iconic BBC programme. Between the historic stone walls and the budding spring gardens, Blue Peter presenter Joel Mawhinney did the honors, acknowledging a royal legacy of sustainability that began long before eco-friendly was a household term.
For the King, the award is a nod to his hands-on leadership—most notably through The King’s Foundation, which has spent decades teaching the world how to live in harmony with nature rather than in competition with it.
The highlight of the day, however, wasn’t just the badge. His Majesty spent the morning swapping notes with a group of young, fellow Green Badge holders who are currently enrolled in the Foundation’s Growing Together, Cooking Together and Food for the Future education programmes, hearing about their innovative ideas to help reduce food waste and protect the planet. Several of the children’s designs and inventions will be sealed inside the Foundation’s time capsule, to be opened in 100 years’ time.
Sarah Muller, Head of Commissioning 7+, said: “Blue Peter has always been about inspiring children to get involved and to believe that they can make a difference to the world. Awarding His Majesty a Green Blue Peter Badge on Earth Day is a powerful reflection of that mission. His Majesty’s lifelong commitment to protecting the natural world, and the work of his charity The King’s Foundation in empowering young people to live more sustainably, perfectly embodies the values Blue Peter has championed for generations.”
Jacqueline Farrell, Executive Director for Education at The King’s Foundation, said: “It has been wonderful to see our students receive their Blue Peter Green Badges today on the Dumfries House estate – and how special for them to receive them alongside The King! The Food for the Future programme has been running for over five years, helping students to build their confidence so they can play an active role in reducing food waste and promoting sustainability within their communities. After taking part in our programme, 100% of students stated that they feel more aware of food waste and its effects on the planet and what they can do as a result, which so heartening for The King’s Foundation education team. We are grateful to Blue Peter for this very special opportunity.”
The Blue Peter Green Badge is awarded to children and individuals who show their commitment to caring for nature and the environment. His Majesty joins a special group of Green Badge holders on Earth Day, reinforcing Blue Peter, the world’s longest running TV programme’s longstanding mission to empower young people to make a positive difference.
The special episode of Blue Peter will be broadcast on CBBC on Friday 1 May at 17:00 and available on BBC iPlayer the same day. It features Steve Backshall from CBBC’s Deadly 60 Series, Abby discovers deadly fungus and plants at Kew Gardens, and “Outside In: Nature Poems”, by Daniel Thompson is reviewed in the Blue Peter Book Club.