PICTURES: Right royal day at Golspie as Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrive in glorious sunshine to warm welcome with pipe band playing and children waving Union Jacks
It was the roar of a large helicopter that first alerted excited onlookers to the impending arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in Golspie today.
Squinting into the bright sunlight, the gleam of the helicopter could be seen slowly descending into a field on the southern edge of the village.
Shortly afterwards the royal couple arrived by car, stopping opposite the Free Church on Church Street, close to the sea.
As they stepped out of the car, they were greeted by Lord-Lieutenant Patrick Marriott and his wife, Henrietta, who is chairman of Golspie Community Council and the coordinator of Golspie Flood Action Group.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s visit focused on the plight of Golspie, one of Scotland’s 10 most flood-prone communities.
A series of floods in recent months have caused widespread damage to businesses and private homes.
Prince Edward, who was installed earlier this week as the Lord High Commissioner for the 2024 General Assembly of the church of Scotland, was dressed in a kilt while Sophie wore flared green trousers, a camel jacket and a striped top. She carried a camel clutch and wore her hair in a ponytail.
Sutherland Caledonian Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Malcolm Paton and Sutherland Schools Pipe Band played.
Talking to the band, the Duchess asked who the youngest and oldest members were and was told they were Sadie Mackay (17) and Marcus Mackay (12).
She also asked if the drums were heavy to carry and revealed that she had been given an opportunity to play the chanter on a previous occasion but had found it “very hard”.
Prince Edward and Sophie were introduced to Golspie community councillors Richard Hixon, Iain Miller, Becky Shaw and Alan Bithell.
The group talked about fishing and shooting and the conservation of species as well as the interaction between red squirrels and pine martens.
Sophie made a fuss of Alan Bithell’s dog, Loki.
The couple stopped frequently to talk to bystanders.
They met 97-year-old Isabel Davidson who showed them a newspaper clipping she had kept in her kitchen since 1969. It was a photograph of Prince Edward as a young boy leaning over and talking to a young girl, believed to be his cousin Sarah Armstrong Jones.
After looking at the picture, Sophie remarked to Edward: “You don’t look a day older!” and he replied: “Thank you very much.”
Angela Mitford Barberton also spoke to the royal couple.
She said: “I am from Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and they have visited there regularly.”
Prince Edward and Sophie are patrons of the Ubunye Foundation, a development trust dedicated to uplifting communities.
Walking along the seafront, the couple stopped to talk to members of Golspie Rowing Club at the Seafront Centre.
They were also introduced to members of a Golspie fishing family, Tommy Macrae, his wife Mary and their son Thomas. They were joined by another local resident, Brian Sutherland, who runs a roofing business but also fishes.
Another of Tommy and Mary’s sons, Mark Macrae, had played the pipes that morning at Holyrood, where the Duke and Duchess were staying.
And the couple’s daughter, local businesswoman Yvonne Macrae, who runs Tartan Creations, later presented Sophie with a beautiful weathered Sutherland tartan infinity scarf and corsage. Yvonne will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of her business in November.
The Duke and Duchess were then introduced to Helen Joy, of Golspie Flood Action Group, Rhionna Mackay, who runs Sutherland Adventure Company, Graham Neville, area manager of NatureScot and Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Catriona Whitfield.
They also met Dr Alistair Rennie, of the Dynamic Coast, which aims to provide the evidence base on the extent of coastal erosion in Scotland; Alan Fraser, leader of Highland Council’s flood risk management team, local resident and marine engineer Ian Melville, Shelley Steadman of Golspie Flood Action Group and local councillor Richard Gale, as well as officials from local golf clubs.
From the harbour area Prince Edward and Sophie walked to the Memorial Garden where the band was playing and a large crowd was waiting, many waving Union Jacks.
There they were introduced to veterans including members of the Golspie branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and also of the Royal Naval Association and armed forces charity SSAFA Caithness and Sutherland.
They spent some time chatting to local schoolchildren.
It was then time to move on to The Welcome on Station Road, home of Golspie Heritage Society, for a light lunch.
Before going inside, Prince Edward and Sophie stopped to view an exhibition outside the centre, set up by members of the society, depicting historic flooding events in Golspie.
They also signed the visitors’ book.
Well-known local chef Amanda Hoare cooked the lunch which was served by local resident Jacqui Oglesby.
Before leaving the village, the royal couple were presented with the scarf and brooch from Yvonne Macrae and also with Highland whisky, gin, liqueur and fruit chocolates, all hand made in Golspie by local chocolatiers Gunther and Heather Vonck.
Mrs Vonck also presented coffee from Golspie businessman Tony Bowes, who runs his own coffee roasting unit, but could not be there for the royal occasion.
Afterwards, Lord-Lieutenant Marriott said he was delighted with the way the visit had gone and that the couple had enjoyed their time in Golspie.
