The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay will officially open a new royal restaurant and gift shop in a Deeside community next week.
As part of his flood recovery efforts in Ballater, Prince Charles has lead the renovation of a derelict former Co-op in the village’s Netherley Place.
Last month the Press and Journal revealed that plans to transform the site into a Highgrove restaurant and shop named the Rothesay Rooms had been granted by Aberdeenshire Council through the duke’s Dumfries House Trust.
This came as the Queen toured Ballater and viewed the work being done to get the community back on its feet following the floods, where she was given a first glimpse inside the “pop-up” enterprise.
On Tuesday the duke and duchess will make the trip to the village to officially mark the opening of the Rothesay Rooms.
The Deeside village was devastated during Storm Frank when the River Dee overflowed at Ballater Golf Club on December 30.
More than 300 homes and 60 businesses were left in ruins after the waters rushed through the community.
The development of the shop – now due to open next month – was part of Prince Charles’s flood appeal which led to the Dumfries House Outreach Programme.
The duke made personal donations to help the village get back on its feet following Storm Frank and also led the speedy clearance and reopening of the ruined Ballater Caravan Park in May.
Guests at next week’s ceremony include local business owners, local builders who worked on the project, as well as donors and supporters of the venture.
A spokeswoman for Clarence House said: “The site was donated by the Co-operative Group for a peppercorn rent and restored by the Prince’s charity, The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust.
“Now complete and due to open to the public next month, their Royal Highnesses will preview the new business which will employ local people and provide a much-needed new facility for locals and visitors alike.
“There are also plans to partner with the Prince’s Trust in order to provide training opportunities for young people in the region.”
