Princely launch for £4m museum plea

The Duke of Cambridge has been appointed patron of the Thin Red Line Appeal on a visit to Stirling Castle.

Prince William, known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, visited the castle yesterday where it is hoped £4million in funding will be secured by 2019 for the redevelopment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum. On arrival, the duke was met by the Earl of Mar and Kellie, hereditary keeper of Stirling Castle, who presented William with the keys to the castle.

The prince was escorted around the current museum by Colonel AK Miller, viewing exhibits including The Thin Red Line painting which depicts the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War in 1854.

He spoke to pupils from the Queen Victoria School whose parents serve in the Armed Forces.

Lily-Grace Methven’s father Scott is the Queen’s piper. She said: “He plays most days and goes around the castle for the Queen and wherever she goes.”

The prince asked the pupils about school life, their future ambitions, and which football teams they support and exchanged “high fives” with them. Spin Me Round. He also appeared on reality television shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Wife Swap and The Body Shocking Show.

The statement from his management said: “He was a true visionary, a beautiful talented soul.” Preston, the Ordinary Boys frontman who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside the singer in 2006, tweeted: “He was a true punk rocker and one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever known. Gutted.”

Davina McCall, who hosted the Celebrity Big Brother series the singer appeared in, said: “So, so sad to hear about Pete Burns... we partied hard in the 90s ... RIP Pete x.”

George Galloway, who shared the Celebrity Big Brother House with Burns in 2006, tweeted: “He was a cross between Oscar Wilde and Dorothy Parker. You don’t get more brilliant than that.”

Boy George said: “Tearful about the passing of @PeteBurnsICON he was one of our great true eccentrics and such a big part of my life! Wow. Hard to believe!”