News
The Prince of Wales visits an archaeological site in Caithness, Scotland
2nd August 2011
The Prince of Wales took refuge under an umbrella today as he visited one of the most northerly points in the British Isles.
After attending the wedding of his niece Zara Phillips in Edinburgh at the weekend, The Prince visited Caithness in Scotland.
His Royal Highness, whose official title in Scotland is The Duke of Rothesay, donned a kilt in the Rothesay tartan and sported a blue cornflower in his buttonhole as he visited one of the area's most important archaeological sites.
He met schoolchildren digging for artefacts at Caithness Broch Centre in Auckengill on the site of the Nybster Broch.
Brochs, found only in Scotland, are Iron Age hollow-walled, dry-stone structures.
Nybster is one of the most important sites in Caithness, with a history stretching to 2,000 years. Finds include metalwork, jewellery and Roman pottery.
The Prince was shown around the site by lead archaeologist Dr Andy Heald from AOC Archaeology. He said The Prince's enthusiasm for the subject was clear.
He said: "He told me about a year he spent studying archaeology at Cambridge. He was taught by a very eminent man called Glynn Daniel. He is very knowledgeable about the subject and obviously very interested in what we have found here."
Pupils from nearby Keiss Primary school also had a chance to meet His Royal Highness.
Max Kennedy, 10, said he showed The Prince some pottery he had dug up at the site that morning. He said The Prince had seemed impressed with his find, saying to the youngster: "Oh wow."
Max added: "He was really nice and not scary. I also told him what we learn about in school."
David Whiteford, from the Highland Initiative which promotes the food, culture and history of the area, said he hoped The Prince's visit would draw more people to the brochs.
He said: "He is really passionate about the Highlands. He seemed very excited by the area and the site and having the chance to see the artefacts."
The Prince also visited Caithness General Hospital in Wick, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
The original hospital was opened by The Prince's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Laboratory assistant Margaret Jones, who has worked for the NHS for 50 years, was working there that day and met The Prince today.
The 65-year-old, originally from Sunderland but now living in Wick, said: "I wasn't introduced to the Queen Mother but I saw her at the reception we had. I thought she was beautiful and a lovely lady. So it was quite poetic and a huge honour that I was introduced to The Prince today.
"He asked me whether I was here that day, and I told him I was. It was quite an emotional thing for me.
"He was absolutely charming."
The Prince met staff, volunteers and patients and had a look around the hospital, visiting the maternity unit, the Henderson Unit, bequeathed to the hospital by Flora Henderson in 1927, and the physiotherapy unit.
He also had a cup of tea in the staff canteen.
Nurse Gemma Hutton, 27, said: "He asked me how long I had been here and said I looked very young. He also asked how we managed not to get lost in all the corridors.
"I liked that he wore a kilt. It made him look very Scottish."
Caithness General Hospital has a new machine which means people can receive kidney dialysis in Caithness. Previously patients had to go to Inverness, 120 miles away.
Patient Clair Bolton, 75, from Murkle near Thurso, said: "I really think this is the best unit in the country. I used to have to go to Inverness, which was a long way to go. I told The Prince all about my treatment.
"I thought it seemed as if he took a personal interest.
"He spoke to me for a long time. I had thought he would just say hello and move on but he really took the time to talk."
Later in the afternoon The Prince visited the Society of Caithness Artists' annual exhibition.
The show, at Thurso High School, is open to submissions from all Caithness artists as well as any other artist with connections to the area.
His Royal Highness loaned two of his own watercolours to the exhibition. He is a long-standing supporter of the society, as was his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
Barbara Myatt, Society Chairman, said The Prince was particularly taken by some "cartoonish" drawings of animals and views of local landscapes. He also admired the work of partially-sighted artist Elizabeth MacDonald who said she told him she is "very proud" of her work.
Ms Myatt said The Prince showed "genuine interest" in the works on display.
She said: "He seemed to enjoy looking at all the different pictures. His grandmother used to come very often and visit the exhibition, so I think his interest stems from that. He has obviously followed in her footsteps.
"I got the feeling he was enjoying himself. He likes Caithness very much and wants to know what goes on here and be involved in communities. I think its a very genuine interest he has.
"We were delighted he wanted to put two of his watercolours in the show."