Gordon's gone: The Highlander will be replaced
Prince Charles has come to the rescue of the Highland hoteliers after revealing that he used to enjoy seeing the soldier statue when he was a boy. Now he is helping track it down.
The landmark stood outside the Loch Kinord Hotel in Dinnet for decades catching the eye of tourists and children alike.
The owners, Andrew and Jenny Cox, said the royal intervention came about after a chance encounter.
Jenny told the Daily Record: “We met Prince Charles when we were invited to Birkhall for drinks.
"He asked about the Gordon Highlander. He wondered where it had disappeared to. We told him we were looking for it and other people had been asking about it.
"It must have vanished in the late 70s or early 80s. Coach parties used to stop at the hotel to have their photos taken beside it."
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So Prince Charles contacted the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, of which he is a patron, and they have offered to make a replica statue
Andrew added: "So many people have asked about the statue, we felt we should try to reinstate it.
"The fact Prince Charles took an interest and acted on it so quickly shows the Gordon Highlanders are very important to him."
The couple are still keen to find out what happened to the original kilted Highlander.
