The Duke of Rothesay is striving to nurture the next generation of Highland Games superstars with a new initiative launched this week.
Through his charity the Prince’s Foundation, he has committed to making traditional sports as much a part of youngsters’ lives as football, rugby and hockey.
The hope is that the programme, run in partnership with High Life Highland, will ultimately become a part of local secondary school curriculums across the north of Scotland.
And to give people a taster of the sports, there is a come-and-try session at the Mey Highland Games on Saturday, which counts the duke as its chieftain.
The class will be overseen by well-known heavy Sinclair Patience, a champion at the 2009 World Amateur Highland Games.
Mr Patience, who has represented Scotland at games all over the world, said: “There are currently few routes into Highland Games for young people in Scotland.
“Many will never have experienced the enjoyment of participating in traditional Highland sports.
“I am excited about playing my part in helping introduce these sports to the next generation of Highland Games competitors.”
The free session will teach the techniques needed in tug o’war, caber tossing and hammer throwing among other sports.
It is open to children of all ages and will be held by the Scottish Highland Games between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
Robert Lovie, director of outreach at the foundation, said: “We view the come-and-try session as the ‘soft launch’ of a wider initiative to bring traditional Highland sports to younger generations in Caithness and the wider area.
“The prince is well-known as a supporter of Highland Games and is determined to show younger generations the joy of practising and competing in the range of sports that form part of a centuries-old tradition.”
Meanwhile, Aboyne Highland Games already has its own event to encourage youngsters to pick up the skills that have gone back generations.
The youth games, which take place tonight, are now in their ninth year. Competitions are split across five age categories and feature the traditional adult events as well as more fun contests like the sack race.
The proceedings start on the green at 8pm.