History of King's Scout in Timeline

The King's Scout Award is the highest youth award in Scouting within the Commonwealth realms, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It's awarded to Scouts who meet specific requirements and achievements. The title alternates between Queen's Scout and King's Scout depending on the current monarch. King Charles III is the current monarch, hence the current award title. It signifies a high level of skill, service, and personal development within the Scouting program.

November 1909: King's Scouts Approved

In November 1909, King Edward VII approved Robert Baden-Powell's request to rank boys who passed special efficiency tests as "King's Scouts".

January 1910: First King's Scout in England

In January 1910, the first King's Scout in England was awarded to patrol leader Victor Watkins, of Broadstone, Dorset.

August 1910: First Australasian King's Scout

In August 1910, it is given the first Australasian King's Scout was in New Zealand.

October 1910: King's Scouts in Australia

By October 1910, at least one troop in Australia had two King's Scouts, the 1st Kensington Troop, Adelaide.

1910: King's Scout Award in South Africa

From 1910 scouts earned the King's Scout Award in South Africa.

June 1911: First King's Scout in Queensland

In June 1911, the first King's Scout in Queensland was awarded.

1911: King's Troop Challenge Standard Proposed

In 1911, it was proposed that one troop from each of the countries of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa would be awarded a Challenge Standard of the name of "King's troop".

1919: King's Sea Scout Badge Existed Briefly

From early-1919, there briefly existed a "King's Sea Scout" badge for the Sea Scout branch alongside the King's Scout Award.

1926: King's Scout Award in Singapore

From 1926 scouts earned the King's Scout Award in Singapore.

1946: Senior Scouts Became Eligible

After the formal establishment of the Senior Scout section in 1946, only Senior Scouts (or Boy Scouts over 15 years of age) could become King's Scouts.

1947: King's Scout Certificate Introduced

Since 1947, individuals who achieve the King's Scout or Queen's Scout award receive a certificate with a facsimile signature of the monarch at that time.

1951: King's Scout Award in Singapore

Until 1951 scouts earned the King's Scout Award in Singapore.

April 1952: Award Renamed Queen's Scout

In April 1952, with the succession of Queen Elizabeth II, the award was renamed from King's Scout to Queen's Scout.

1952: Queen's Scout Award in Singapore

From 1952 scouts earned the Queen's Scout Award in Singapore.

1957: Malaysia's King's Scout Award Post-Independence

Since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, Malaysia's King's Scout Award is conferred in the name of the Royal Patron of the Scouts Association of Malaysia, His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

May 1961: South Africa Became a Republic

Upon becoming the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961, the award's name and insignia was changed to the Springbok Award.

1963: Singapore Became Part of Malaysia

Until 1963, Singapore was part of the British Empire, then becoming part of Malaysia.

1965: Singapore Became its Own Republic

In 1965, Singapore became its own republic.

1966: Queen's Scout Award in Singapore

Until 1966 scouts earned the Queen's Scout Award in Singapore.

1967: President's Scout Award Introduced in Singapore

After independence in 1967, the award was renamed the 'President's Scout Award' in Singapore.

1968: Queen's Venturer Award Introduced in Canada

In 1968, Scouts Canada changed the Queen's Scout Award into the Queen's Venturer Award when the Scout programme was divided into the Scout and Venturer programmes.

1980: First Person with Both Queen's Awards

In 1980, Susan Parker of 1st Brantham Panthers Venture Scout Unit became the first person to hold both the Queen's Guide Award and the Queen's Scout Award.

1987: Queen's Scout Award Presented on St George's Day

Before 1987, the Royal Certificate (Queen's Scout Award certificate) was awarded in the Hong Kong Scout Rally or on St George's Day, by the Governor of Hong Kong.