The Prince of Wales remembered his grandmother as he unveiled a memorial bench in her honour in Caithness on Friday.

The bench at the Castle of Mey was on the site of one of the Queen Mother's favourite beauty spots.

She had often spent summer evenings admiring the view over the Pentland Firth while staying at her Highland retreat.

Unveiling the bench, Prince Charles said: "I can imagine how my grandmother would have enjoyed this wonderful construction which has been lovingly made at the spot that she had so much appreciated and loved."

'Affection'

Caithness was a "place that she always talked about" with "great affection", he said.

Camilla Parker Bowles was also at the ceremony, after spending a day in the far north of Scotland.

The bench carries an inscription, stating that it had been placed by the Queen Mother's friends, trustees and employees at Mey.

The ceremony is expected to be Charles' last official engagement at the castle before it opens its doors to the public next week.

Castle of Mey is opening to the public

The Queen Mother bought the dilapidated Castle of Mey after her husband's death in 1952 and restored it to its former glory.

She was a regular visitor to the area over several decades and retained ownership of the property until 1996.

Trophy

It was then handed over to a charitable trust, which is opening the doors for public tours for the first time from 14 August.

Prince Charles arrived at the castle on Thursday evening in his Aston Martin after a 200-mile drive from Balmoral.

He was met on the steps of the 16th-century castle by Ashe Windham, one-time equerry to the Queen Mother, and long-time castle factor Martin Leslie.

Prince Charles is due to attend the Highland Games in Mey on Saturday, when he will present the trophy for the tug-of-war competition.