Earl will help mark Royal School’s 450th anniversary

The Earl of Wessex is to help a Perthshire school celebrate a remarkable milestone.

The royal visitor will be among those attending a special service in Dunkeld Cathedral to rededicate the Royal School of Dunkeld which is celebrating its 450th anniversary.

The service at 1.30pm on Tuesday June 27 will include new music composed for the occasion by piper Graham Mulholland, violinist Pete Clark and cathedral organist Michael Anderson.

Scotland’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders, will be part of the procession, adding colour to the occasion.

People with a past or present connection to the school are invited to attend and there will be speakers outside so that everyone can hear the service.

Members of the public wishing to see the Earl are encouraged to gather in Dunkeld for 2pm, between Cathedral Street and High Street, via The Cross, as he will be taking part in a walkabout following the service of rededication.

On a visit to the school, where a garden party is being held, the Earl will unveil its Coat of Arms Letter Patent which has been newly restored by the Court of the Lord Lyon.

“We were delighted to hear that The Earl of Wessex will be visiting Perthshire to help celebrate the 450th anniversary of The Royal School of Dunkeld,” said Provost Dennis Melloy.

“I know that pupils from the school are particularly looking forward to welcoming him to the area, and to having him attend the rededication service more than four centuries after the original Royal Charter was granted to the school.”

After visiting Dunkeld the Earl will make his way to Willowgate Activity Centre, Perth, where he will name a Tay river skiff built by Duke of Edinburgh Award participants and school children from Perth High School, supported by the Tay Landscape Partnership.

Earlier in the day he will be given a look at the ongoing transformation of Perth Theatre.