King Charles III has been announced as the patron of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
Queen Elizabeth II was a patron of the Scottish agricultural society for 70 years, with RHASS saying she was “invaluable” to communities across Scotland, the UK and the Commonwealth.
Commenting on the announcement of King Charles III’s patronage, RHASS chief executive Alan Laidlaw said:
“We are honoured and humbled that King Charles III is to continue the Royal Family’s long-standing tradition of supporting Scotland’s agricultural and rural communities through the work of the society.
“In what is our two hundred and fortieth anniversary year, when we are celebrating all that has been achieved over the last two centuries, and looking ahead to supporting the future of industry, it is fitting that we have a new royal patron to support Scotland’s agricultural achievements.”
The Royal Family’s association with RHASS can be traced to 1787 when the society was granted its first royal charter.
The Royal Highland Show, which is run by RHASS, also has a long history with the Royal Family and members attending the show.
It was during the 1948 show held in Inverness that the royal title was bestowed on the event by King George VI.
The King’s patronage comes as the society celebrates its 240th anniversary year.
240 Years of Stories
Planned activities acknowledging the year includes the year-long audio and visual storytelling project, ‘240 Years of Stories‘, to contribute towards the legacy of Scotland’s agricultural and rural community.
Over the next 12 months, the RHASS 240 Years of Stories initiative hopes to bring to life a “rich tapestry of tales” that relay people’s experiences of rural life, connections and pivotal moments within the agricultural community, the charity said.
RHASS chief executive, Alan Laidlaw, said: “RHASS was formed two hundred and forty years ago and while the organisation has evolved tremendously since then, the very reason RHASS continues to exist today hasn’t changed; and that is to champion agriculture and support those who live and work within it.
“It’s those who have a connection with the sector and industry that we’d love to hear from.
“Whether you were brought up on a farm, have family who own a farm or have historic tales of generations gone by who worked within the sector and contributed in some way to the industry, we’d love to hear your stories.
“In gathering tales old and new, we can help preserve these stories so that two hundred and forty years from now, future generations can learn and enjoy what has gone before them.”
