What has brought Princess Anne and almost 200 Londoners together in Aberdeen?
Trinity Hall has hosted its very first official Royal visit since opening its doors to the public in the 1960s.
Despite the downpour, several passers-by stopped to watch the Princess Royal arrive at the imposing building on the corner of Holburn Street and Great Western Road on Friday evening.
She was the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen to mark the beginning of a special weekend.
As well as Princess Anne, 196 visitors from London were also welcomed to the modern landmark.
The London Livery Companies – England's equivalent to the Trades – spend a weekend in a different city every year.
And this year, they are discovering all Aberdeen has to offer.
The Liveries are all linked to the Lord Mayor of London who happens to have very strong connections with the north-east.
Alastair King hails from the Donside area and still splits his time between London and Strathdon.
He first suggested the Liveries should travel north to his hometown for their annual trip two years ago.
When he asked Deacon Convener Andy Leiper if he thought the Seven Incorporated Trades would be able to host, he responded: 'Of course we can'.
'The role of the Lord Mayor of London is to get investment for cities,' Andy told The Press and Journal. 'He travels the world as an ambassador for London.
'He wants investment into the city of Aberdeen from the capital.'
After many months of planning, the London guests' jam-packed weekend started with a special dinner at Trinity Hall.
The Lord Provost and the Lord Dean of Guild were among those greeting the 196 Londoners – as well as their Royal guest.
Princess Anne, who has been involved with the Liveries for decades, quickly took cover from the rain but did spend some time outside talking to the welcoming party, and performers from Robert Gordon's College Pipe Band.
'This is the first official Royal visit since the building was built in 1966,' Andy, who was head of Aberdeen's bakers guild, said.
'It's quite an event for me as Deacon Convener and for the Lord Mayor – and the city as well.'
Princess Anne's visit also celebrates the Seven Incorporated Trades' charity work.
The Trades Widows' Fund has donated more than £1.5 million to local causes since 2017.
One of their projects was building Aberdeen Riding Club at Nether Anguston Farm in Peterculter.
Here, they have installed a riding simulator so disabled people can experience horse riding.
Princess Anne, president of the Riding for the Disabled Association, recognised this work when visiting the club in 2023.
The guests from London Livery Companies will continue learning more about the north-east over the weekend.
An itinerary of events has been organised for the guests, including excursions to Crathes Castle, Fittie and South Harbour.
A civic event will be held at Aberdeen Art Gallery on Saturday, with a ceilidh at Ardoe House to follow.
The 196-strong group will attend a service at King's College on Sunday morning before some make their way to Balmoral.
'It's a jam-packed weekend,' Andy said. 'It has taken some organisation over the last year and a half.
'The idea is to give them a taste of Aberdeen so they want to come back.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Press and Journal
4 hours ago
- Press and Journal
The Pitfour Arms Hotel pulling pints again after four-year absence
The doors of the Pitfour Arms Hotel open once more today – with the first pints in four years being pulled. Behind the historic Mintlaw pub's rebirth are Shaun Forbes and his partner Giselle, who left jobs in Aberdeen to take over the business. The couple have big plans for the venue, which features a beer garden and a cosy snug area. There are also four bedrooms, which they hope to start letting out in the near future. Quiz nights, whisky evenings, cocktail classes and tea parties are all in the pipeline too. And while they won't be offering food just yet, events with food trucks and tasting nights are already in the works. For now though, things kick off with a grand reopening today featuring live music. After being closed since 2021, the local spot will host its grand reopening with live music on Saturday 7 June. Known to locals as 'The Pit', the business on The Square has been closed since 2021. The couple only picked up the keys to the pub four weeks ago and a speedy rennovation has since taken place – with the help of Shaun's cousin, Stephen. 'There's been a lot of interest from the community,' Stephen, 35, told The Press and Journal. 'Everyone's been so supportive. 'The are just happy to see the pub come back to life.' Shaun, a former oil and gas worker, is a craft beer fanatic who frequently visits local breweries and distilleries to create content for his YouTube channel. Through this, the twenty-nine-year-old has built strong relationships with the local drinks scene. His passion for the industry grew after helping his parents run The White Horse Hotel in Strichen, which they took over last year. So when the opportunity to revive The Pitfour Arms came along, it felt like the perfect next step. After years of closure, Shaun and Giselle, 31, are thrilled to bring The Pitfour Arms Hotel back to life. 'We've had such a warm welcome already,' said Shaun. 'Giselle and I can't wait to get involved with the community.' The couple hope the venue will once again become a lively place for locals and visitors. With a packed calendar of events in the works, they're aiming to offer something for everyone. Shaun added: 'There are exciting times ahead.'
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace discover likely date for verdict on European football ban
Crystal Palace secured their spot in next season's Europa League after winning the FA Cup but their participation in the competition is in major doubt with UEFA set to make a decision Crystal Palace face a near MONTH LONG wait to discover their European fate. The Eagles secured their spot in the Europa League at the end of the season after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. They were set to go straight into the league stage of the competition but there are now doubts over whether the south Londoners can actually compete in the tournament. UEFA rules forbid individuals having control of more than club to be in the same competition at the same time to avoid conflicts of interest. Eagle Football - the group owned by John Textor - is a minority shareholder in Palace, while they are also a majority shareholder in French side Lyon. Both clubs have secured qualification for the Europa League. As it stands, Lyon get priority over the Premier League side due to their superior league finish last term. Palace chiefs have attempted to win UEFA over by flying to their headquarters in Switzerland for talks. But it appears that Palace will have to sweat for a while over their prospects of playing Europe next season. That's according to the BBC, who say a decision from UEFA is not expected until at least the end of the month. The news will be a huge blow to Palace's hopes of planning for next season. Boss Oliver Glasner has already admitted that a place in Europe could affect their transfer ambitions. Speaking earlier this year, he said: 'From a financial perspective, Crystal Palace will never be a top-four club in England. Not with all the other big clubs here and that's not necessary because not everybody can be a top-four club. It's just not possible. 'This club got promoted in 2013. Since then, it has always progressed. Not huge steps. You can be a one-hit wonder and then you're gone. We said: our planning shouldn't be, 'Now we play in Europe, so let's do crazy things', and then everything collapses. We follow a pathway. 'This pathway didn't start with Oliver Glasner. It started with the new owners in 2010. Very stable, mid-table, always between 10 and 15. And this is where we are again. 'Now, it's step by step. Winning this trophy, playing internationally, getting this experience, and maybe getting some players we couldn't by playing European football. This can help us take the next step.' Palace have already seen one of their Premier League rivals take action regarding their European hopes. Nottingham Forest also saw a potential spot in the Champions League in jeopardy due to Evangelos Marinakis' ownership of Greek giants Olympiacos. He diluted his control of the East Midlands club by placing his shares in a blind trust. But Textor is unlikely to follow that example because he and Eagle Football do not have decisive influence over the Croydon outfit. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Press and Journal
15 hours ago
- Press and Journal
What has brought Princess Anne and almost 200 Londoners together in Aberdeen?
Trinity Hall has hosted its very first official Royal visit since opening its doors to the public in the 1960s. Despite the downpour, several passers-by stopped to watch the Princess Royal arrive at the imposing building on the corner of Holburn Street and Great Western Road on Friday evening. She was the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen to mark the beginning of a special weekend. As well as Princess Anne, 196 visitors from London were also welcomed to the modern landmark. The London Livery Companies – England's equivalent to the Trades – spend a weekend in a different city every year. And this year, they are discovering all Aberdeen has to offer. The Liveries are all linked to the Lord Mayor of London who happens to have very strong connections with the north-east. Alastair King hails from the Donside area and still splits his time between London and Strathdon. He first suggested the Liveries should travel north to his hometown for their annual trip two years ago. When he asked Deacon Convener Andy Leiper if he thought the Seven Incorporated Trades would be able to host, he responded: 'Of course we can'. 'The role of the Lord Mayor of London is to get investment for cities,' Andy told The Press and Journal. 'He travels the world as an ambassador for London. 'He wants investment into the city of Aberdeen from the capital.' After many months of planning, the London guests' jam-packed weekend started with a special dinner at Trinity Hall. The Lord Provost and the Lord Dean of Guild were among those greeting the 196 Londoners – as well as their Royal guest. Princess Anne, who has been involved with the Liveries for decades, quickly took cover from the rain but did spend some time outside talking to the welcoming party, and performers from Robert Gordon's College Pipe Band. 'This is the first official Royal visit since the building was built in 1966,' Andy, who was head of Aberdeen's bakers guild, said. 'It's quite an event for me as Deacon Convener and for the Lord Mayor – and the city as well.' Princess Anne's visit also celebrates the Seven Incorporated Trades' charity work. The Trades Widows' Fund has donated more than £1.5 million to local causes since 2017. One of their projects was building Aberdeen Riding Club at Nether Anguston Farm in Peterculter. Here, they have installed a riding simulator so disabled people can experience horse riding. Princess Anne, president of the Riding for the Disabled Association, recognised this work when visiting the club in 2023. The guests from London Livery Companies will continue learning more about the north-east over the weekend. An itinerary of events has been organised for the guests, including excursions to Crathes Castle, Fittie and South Harbour. A civic event will be held at Aberdeen Art Gallery on Saturday, with a ceilidh at Ardoe House to follow. The 196-strong group will attend a service at King's College on Sunday morning before some make their way to Balmoral. 'It's a jam-packed weekend,' Andy said. 'It has taken some organisation over the last year and a half. 'The idea is to give them a taste of Aberdeen so they want to come back.'
