The Duke of Rothesay visited a bespoke tailor in the Highlands today – and left with a swatch of the new tartan created for his charitable foundation.
Dozens of residents lined the streets of Beauly, in Inverness-shire, as Prince Charles attended Campbell’s of Beauly for his first engagement of the day.
The Duke was met by owner John Sugden and his wife Nicola before being escorted around the premises to meet various members of staff.
He took a brief tour of the company’s main store before being shown the new workshop space.
He also met John McLeish, chairman of the Scottish Tartans Authority, who presented the Prince with a sample of the new Princes Foundation Tartan – created in honour of his 70th birthday late last year.
He said: “We are very lucky he is our patron. He is very, very supportive and has been over the last three years so we are very fortunate. Of course, his Royal Highness wears Highland dress so well and he doesn’t need an excuse to wear it which is lovely to see.
“I think he was pleased with it but I will give it away with him so he can look at it more closely.”
To mark the official opening of the new workshop, His Royal Highness unveiled a stone plaque congratulating the team on their commitment and success in creating authentic garments within the Highlands while providing top quality employment for their dedicated workforce.
Proud owner Mr Sugden said he was “honoured and privileged” to host His Royal Highness siting the new facility as a great addition for Campbell’s and the wider community.
He said: “It was absolutely wonderful. It was such an honour and a privilege to have his Royal Highness here. It’s great for Campbells but also the wider community of Beauly.
“It’s important to keep the skills going to keep them alive and that’s what we are trying to do at Dumfries House and the textile schools there in creating enthusiasm from a young age in going into these crafts and we are totally committed to making things here in Beauly and supporting the local community and creating employment. Creating employment is a wonderful thing in a local, rural and remote Highland outpost.”
