THE Duke and Duchess of Rothesay went down the pub when they came to Bute to celebrate the spirit of community, volunteering and connection that helps to define island life.
The red letter day was William and Kates inaugural visit to the island that gives them their Scottish titles.
The central feature of their Thursday visit was to the Anchor Tavern in Port Bannatyne. It was re-opened in April 2022 by the Port Bannatyne Development Trust.
The chair of the Trust, David McNee, said it was an honour to host the duke and duchess.
He revealed the visit came about through a conversation that began some years ago.
A team from Kensington Palace came to recce the island last month. Mr McNee said the next thing he knew there was a phone call asking if William and Kate could come to the pub.
We got a call about a week ago and of course we were delighted to say yes.
Mr McNee added: We were asked if we could line up some of the volunteers, the staff and customers.
And as the duke and duchess came to call, they did indeed get to meet some of the locals who help to make the Tavern tick.
Mr McNee said he believed the pub was chosen because of its outstanding success in creating and developing a community development trust. The Anchor has been a great success for four years now, he added.
The Royal visit included a stop in Rothesay and follows last years trip to the Isles of Mull and Iona, continuing a pattern of royal engagements across Scotlands island communities.
The Bute visit was designed to show how routine social interactions can strengthen the bonds within a community and foster resilience.
The community-owned model managed by the Port Bannatyne Development Trust has proved beneficial well beyond the pubs four walls. The Trust has also remodelled premises next door to create a vibrant community hub.
Over the past year, the Trust has helped to fund a variety of local initiatives, including the Bute Conservation Trust, looking after walking paths across the island. Sport and social clubs, as well as the Community Garden, have also received financial support.
Previous Royal visits to Bute include Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh who sailed into Rothesay Bay on board the Britannia in 1958.
Prior to that, another Prince of Wales, as William is also known, visited the island. Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VIII, came to Rothesay in 1932.
