The Duke of Rothesay has partnered with a Deeside whisky maker to help school the next generation of distillers.
The Royal Station at Ballater is just weeks away from opening, more than three years after it was devastated by a huge fire.
Part of the £3million restoration has been to build a new tea room and waiting room known as the Carriage on the original platform where the Royal Family, including a young Prince Charles, would have arrived on their way to Braemar.
Now the duke’s charity, the Prince’s Foundation, has announced a new partnership with Royal Lochnagar Distillery.
Once the facility is up and running with 10 new employees, the charity will launch its Get Into Hospitality scheme, part of which will offer students the chance to learn the whisky making process.
This will include a tour to explain the distillation process and tastings to learn about food pairings.
Sean Phillips, distillery manager at the site, said: “We are pleased to support the revitalisation of Ballater station through The Carriage, which we hope will contribute to the renewed growth and success of Ballater by providing local employment and training and giving tourists another reason to visit beautiful Royal Deeside.”
The distillery, which is just along the River Dee from Ballater, attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year.
Kenneth Dunsmuir, executive director of the foundation, added: “We are delighted that Diageo and Royal Lochnagar Distillery are enthusiastic about contributing greatly to His Royal Highness’s commitment to restore Ballater to its former glory and helping to train a new generation of hospitality professionals.”
The space will also be fitted out to include a Visit Scotland information centre and an Aberdeenshire Council library.
Meanwhile, specialists have also been restoring the interior of the royal waiting room to ensure it is of the same quality as before the fire, reusing and repairing as much of the original fabrics as possible.
In addition, there will also be a new area extending along the old platform and over the tracks where the royal carriage sits.
