The Duke of Rothesay will help breathe new life into the Deeside train station he used as a boy almost three years after it was destroyed by a huge fire.
Ballater’s B-Listed Old Royal Station was used by the Royal Family to travel to nearby Balmoral up until the 1960s and had become a popular tourist destination in the years since.
But on May 12, 2015, it was engulfed in a massive blaze.
Since then there has been a £3million restoration project to bring it back into use as a tourist centre, library and restaurant.
Now the duke has announced that, through one of his charitable trusts, the eatery will be established as the Ballater Station Bistro and Tearoom.
It marks the latest helping hand Prince Charles has given the village after he opened the Rothesay Rooms and the Highgrove Shop in an effort to attract tourists following the Storm Frank floods of winter 2015-16.
Marr Area Committee chairwoman Moira Ingleby said the development was another positive step for the area.
She said: “Ballater has suffered some setbacks in recent years, but this is another really positive contribution to help the village feel even more positive about its future.
“This will be another key asset which will bring visitors from far and wide, enhancing what the new station and the community as a whole have to offer.”
The cash will come from the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council.
A tearoom and kitchen will be located within the main building, with entry via the old royal entrance, and the bistro will be located in the original platform area of the station.
The tearoom will serve traditional afternoon tea, including homebaking and finger sandwiches, while the bistro will specialise in seasonal British dishes using local produce for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ballater Heritage Society is likely to play a significant role in the building’s development and future use.
