For Cod and the Queen! Beaming Prince Charles greets crowds as he opens new Scottish fish market

The Prince of Wales has described a new fish market as ‘a great achievement’ as he attended its official opening ceremony.

The state-of-the-art North Bay market building opened in June this year to accommodate the greater quantities of stocks being landed on the quayside at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.

Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, attended the ceremony on Saturday along with more than 500 invited guests.

The Prince of Wales greets members of the public during a visit to Peterhead fish market for the opening of the new North Bay market building

Feeling peckish? Charles views a seafood stall during his visit to the state-of-the-art market building

The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Rothesay whilst in Scotland, was shown a filleting demonstration by 18-year-old Conrad Jack (right) who is a fifth-generation fish filleter and the youngest working for Jack Fish Co.

Charles seemed to enjoy the filleting demonstration with Gordon Gibb, director of Polaris Learning (wearing white) and Conrad Jack

The prince said he was ‘very glad’ to be able to join everyone in the opening of ‘this very important new fish market facility’.

He added: ‘If I may just add my warmest congratulations to all those who played such an important part in building this new development, and above all in delivering it on time and on budget. That I think is a great achievement.

‘This new market I’m sure will make a huge difference to, not only the local economy here in Peterhead, but also more widely in this part of Scotland.’

The quayside is the UK’s largest white fish and pelagic port and it replaces the former market at Merchants Quay.

It is also part of Peterhead Port Authority’s £51 million project to redevelop the harbour. 

The new market has a capacity of 10,000 boxes and the latest refrigeration technology which, combined with good access for boats on the quayside and articulated lorries on the shoreside, ensures that product quality is maintained as fish pass through.

Prince Charles donned a kilt and a lilac shirt with a suit jacket for the opening ceremony along with matching green socks

The prince attended the ceremony which hosted more than 500 guests in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Whilst attending the event, Charles met with heritage groups in the area as well as local organisations during the visit 

It also new has office space and a cafe.

The community were in full support of the event and entertainment at the celebration included that from local school pupils, Turriff Pipe Band and musicians Fiona Kennedy and Maggie Adamson.

Charles also viewed exhibition stands and met with contractors who worked on the project, fisheries organisations and heritage groups.

Charles looked intrigued as he discussed the intricate details of this replica fishing boat with local men 

Prince Charles was given a gift (left) during his visit and he also sampled some local delicacies (right)

He also took a tour of fishing vessels moored at the quay.

Fisherman John Campbell, 30, from Peterhead, said he met the prince at the event and that ‘he was really nice’ and put him ‘at ease’.

‘He seemed like he was genuinely interested in talking to me and asking about the vessel and the job we do.’

In the first nine weeks of its operation, more than 250,000 boxes of fish were sold in the new fish market, rising to just short of 340,000 boxes in the first 11 weeks. 

Charles was shown examples of the catch that is sold at the market by Jimmy Buchan (left)

Fish and chips? Charles is shown a monk fish, just one of the many example of some of the catch sold at the market

As part of the event Charles also unveiled a plaque, which stated that he officially opened the market on September 29

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