The Princess Royal visited Peterhead yesterday to meet the local sea cadet unit and reopen their refurbished headquarters.
Princess Anne arrived at TS Caledonia hall on the corner of Seagate and Alexandra Parade at 1.45pm and was welcomed by around 50 local residents and the cadets.
Cadet Josh Davidson piped the princess into the hall where she was given a tour of the building, met the cadets as well as the adult volunteers.
The Princess Royal also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the official reopening of the unit and was presented with a posy of flowers by Leading Junior Cadet Alexander Watt.
Following the visit, officer in charge of TS Caledonia Sub Lt (SCC) Marleen Mowatt RNR said: “We are extremely honoured to have received a visit from the Princess Royal to officially reopen our unit.
“It has been fantastic to see this ambitious project to re-roof the building come to fruition.
“The success of TS Caledonia is down to the commitment and dedication of an amazing team of volunteers who work together to deliver the cadet experience to the youth of Peterhead.”
She added that the unit is always open to new volunteers who want to support the cadets.
The Peterhead sea cadet unit has been based at their Seagate headquarters for more than 60 years and the management team hope the refurbishment will safeguard the building for future generations.
The work is the culmination of five years of fundraising to raise £150,000 to replace the roof and upgrade the facilities.
Dozens of local people lined the streets around the unit headquarters to mark the princess’s arrival.
Gladys Buchan said: “Years and years ago she was here opening up something at St Fergus. My grandson is in the sea cadets and he was very nervous. It’s a great day for it.”
The Peterhead unit is regarded as one of the finest in the north of Scotland and offers youngsters the chance to train in sailing, powerboating, rowing and paddlesports at Peterhead Marina.
Last night Eileen Buchan, chairwoman of the Northern Area’s unit management teams, said: “I am extremely proud of our management team and all they have achieved. Having Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visit is a momentous occasion in the unit’s history.”