The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
A warm welcome for royal visitor despite the weather.
Umbrellas at the ready as royal visitor comes to village then heads to Fair City
The people of Dunkeld shrugged off the weather to give a royal visitor a warm welcome.
Despite torrential rain, the village turned out in force yesterday as the Earl of Wessex helped them celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Royal School of Dunkeld.
After attending a special service of rededication for the school in Dunkeld Cathedral, the Earl made his way to the centre of the village, where a royal walkabout was relocated to the drill hall to keep everyone dry.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant Brigadier Mel Jameson, he met with local nursery children and presented long service certificates to members of Europe’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders, who added a splash of colour to a grey day.
He was accompanied by the Marquis of Tullibardine, who has a personal family interest in the historic school.
The eldest son of the 12th Duke of Atholl, he is a direct descendant of the Earl of Atholl, one of the founders of the original school 450 years ago.
“I feel very proud to be part of the history of such a fantastic school and I know my ancestors would be very proud of what the school has achieved over the past five centuries,” he said.
“I warmly thank his royal highness for marking these celebrations on such a fine Scottish summer’s day.”
Food had been laid on for the royal party, showcasing local produce and among those present and helping out – but keeping a low profile – was celebrity baker Flora Shedden.
“I’m just one of the caterers,” she said.
After spending half an hour chatting with local people who had braved the rain, the Earl, wearing a kilt for the occasion, then moved on to the school itself, where a garden party was staged in a marquee.
On the visit, the Earl unveiled the school’s Coat of Arms Letter Patent, newly restored by the Court of the Lord Lyon.
After visiting Dunkeld the Earl of Wessex made his way to Willowgate Activity Centre near Perth.
There, he named a Tay River skiff built by Duke of Edinburgh Award participants and schoolchildren from Perth High School, supported by the Tay Landscape Partnership.
The craft was named The Silvery Pearl.
In a busy schedule, the Earl also viewed the ongoing £16.6 million transformation of Perth Theatre and reburied a time capsule from 1899 which was uncovered during the most recent work.