A woodland at the Queen Mother’s beloved Highland hideaway has been has been named after a millionaire Saudi businessman who has never visited it.
Castle of Mey at Thurso in Caithness is the only residence directly owned by the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
It is understood that Dr Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz has donated £370,000 to the charitable trust which runs the property.
The 45-year-old businessman has been honoured with the Mahfouz Wood, to the east of the 15th century castle.
Six benches with plaques bearing the names of Dr Mahfouz, his father and four brothers will be placed around the building’s gardens, which the Queen Mother lovingly tended over the years.
He has also been made an honorary patron of the trust alongside celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh.
His donation has helped with the cost of replacing many of the castle’s windows.
Prince Charles is president of the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, which owns the castle and runs it in memory of the Queen Mother.
Ashe Windham, chairman of the trust and former equerry to the Queen Mother at the castle, revealed Dr Mahfouz’s support in the Friends of the Castle of Mey annual newsletter.
He wrote: “He has a particular interest in the architecture and history of Scotland, hence his valued support for The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust.
“His excellency has been wonderfully generous to the trust and his support is enabling us to press ahead with some of the capital projects.”
Dr Mahfouz’s family made its fortune in the Middle East through hotels, property and manufacturing.
He splits his time between the Middle East and the UK, where he has luxury apartments over looking London’s Hyde Park.
In 2012 he founded the Mahfouz Foundation, a charity which aims to “advance the education of the public in the United Kingdom in the culture, history, language, literature and institutions of the Middle East”.