The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay celebrate 10 years of Dumfries House and Her Royal Highness officially names HMS Prince of Wales during the Royal visit to Scotland

Their Royal Highnesses continued the Royal visit to Scotland on Thursday with events at Dumfries House to mark 10 years since His Royal Highness helped secure the future of this 18th-century stately home. 

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay marked the occasion with a tea party in the grounds of Dumfries House. Their Royal Highnesses joined guests from local community groups in dancing to Elvis impersonator John Reid.

Their Duke and Duchess also attended a Dumfries House garden party and met local residents and school children. The children from local primary schools were taking part in education activities and having a tea party in the Pierburg Garden.

At the annual dog show, The Duchess’s two Jack Russell dogs Beth and Bluebell joined in the fun. Her Royal Highness presented the Best in Show rosette to schoolgirl Emily Love from Cumnock who won the title with her Border Collie, Lexie.

Earlier in the day, The Duke and Duchess met staff and toured the premises of Emergency One (E1), which manufactures fleets of emergency vehicles for fire services across the UK.

During their short tour of the company based in Cumnock, Their Royal Highnesses chatted to some of the firm's 180 employees, including 30 apprentices. The company works with The Prince's Trust, taking on a number of young people through their training courses and offering apprenticeships for auto electricians, coach builders, mechanical fitters and automotive painters.

The Duchess was invited into the driving seat of a fire engine and shown how to switch on its lights and siren.

The Duke and Duchess also visited the nearby Netherthird Community Garden. The garden was set up in 2010 and is used by a host of community groups.

On Friday, The Duchess of Rothesay officially named The Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier during a traditional ceremony at Rosyth Dockyard, Fife.   

Accompanied by The Duke of Rothesay, The Duchess took part in the ceremony, which included giving the signal for a bottle of whisky to be smashed against the hull of HMS Prince of Wales. The tradition, which dates back thousands of years, combines a celebration with a solemn blessing.

The Duchess said: "As Lady Sponsor, I take great pride in my own personal connections with the Royal Navy.

"For almost ten years now, I have been Commodore in Chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service and of the naval chaplaincy service.

"My closest connection with our great Navy is through another Admiral, my husband, another Prince of Wales. So I already feel a particular affection for this ship.

“I name this ship Prince of Wales. May God bless her and all who sail in her."

In the afternoon, The Duke of Rothesay met students involved in traditional building crafts at the Scottish Lime Centre Trust in Fife and The Duchess of Rothesay toured House of Bruar in Pitlochry, a family-run store selling traditional Scottish food, drink and clothing. 

In Edinburgh The Duke visited the Patrick Geddes Centre, a listed 16th century courtyard house newly restored by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust.