Royal Couple Champions Community Spirit During Scottish Visit
The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Princess Kate, embarked on a significant visit to Scotland, where they highlighted the importance of community-run facilities and engaged with local sports ahead of the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games. Their itinerary included a heartwarming stop at a unique pub and an energetic session on the curling ice, demonstrating their commitment to grassroots initiatives and national sporting success.
A Pint and Community Pride at The Goth
During their visit to Fallin, a former mining village near Stirling, the royal couple spent time at The Gothenburg, affectionately known locally as The Goth. This establishment is a rare example of a pub operating under the historic Gothenburg system, where profits are reinvested directly into community projects rather than being taken as private earnings. Founded in 1910, it stands as one of the few remaining pubs in Scotland utilising this philanthropic model.
Publican Rob Donaldson, who took over the pub in 2013, had the honour of hosting William and Kate. He described the royal visit as the unequivocal highlight of his tenure, surpassing even the achievement of simply keeping the pub operational for the community. "That's just topped it, by the way, meeting a future king. Absolutely fantastic," Mr Donaldson exclaimed, noting that the encounter had made his day and his year.
As a memento of the visit, Mr Donaldson presented Prince William with a special Guinness glass adorned with The Goth's logo, along with symbolic shares in the community-owned pub. The couple learned that an impressive 95 per cent of the pub's profits are donated to various local causes. These include support for families in need, food banks, local charities, and hospices, underscoring the pub's vital role in sustaining the village's social fabric.
Princess Kate also took the opportunity to engage with local teachers, discussing the anxieties faced by schools and exploring how educational institutions are deeply intertwined with the wider community. Their interactions with residents highlighted the royal couple's genuine interest in understanding and supporting local challenges and triumphs.
Curling with Champions Ahead of the Winter Games
Following their pub visit, William and Kate shifted focus to sporting pursuits, trying their hand at curling during a visit to Team GB's Olympic and Paralympic teams. The activity took place at the National Curling Academy in Stirling, in preparation for the Winter Paralympic Games scheduled for February and March in Milano-Cortina.
The royal pair took to the ice, later sharing their curling experiences with children at the sports centre. Bruce Mouat, skip of the men's curling team and a competitor in mixed doubles, expressed his delight at their visit. "It was wonderful, really nice that they came to wish us good luck for the next month we are about to embark on. Both of them were lovely and willing to curl," he remarked.
Curling, a sport with roots dating back to 16th-century Scotland, has evolved into one of Team GB and Paralympics GB's most successful winter disciplines. To date, British curlers have secured six Olympic medals and two Paralympic medals, a testament to the nation's prowess on the ice. The royal visit served as a morale boost for the athletes as they finalise their preparations for the international competition.
This dual-focus visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales not only celebrated community resilience and philanthropy in Fallin but also showcased their support for British athletes striving for glory on the global stage. It reinforced their roles as advocates for both local empowerment and national sporting achievement.
