Prince Edward is "looking forward to the new partnership between the five Youth Aliyah Child Rescue villages in Israel and the International [Duke of Edinburgh's] Award".

The prince hosted Youth Aliyah's 75th anniversary dinner in the picture gallery of St James's Palace last Wednesday, which raised £200,000 for the charity and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association.

After welcoming the 170 guests to the palace, the prince conveyed his enthusiasm that "the opportunity of achieving the award could now be offered to so many new young people".

Dinner chair Melvin Robinson stressed how the Youth Aliyah villages enhanced the lives of their young residents through a loving and nurturing family environment. He also highlighted the link of the Hahn family to the two organisations. Kurt Hahn inspired the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. His sister-in-law Lola Warburg-Hahn was instrumental in bringing Jewish orphans to Youth Aliyah villages in what was then Palestine.