The Duke of Rothesay
Highland Games Pavilion
Unveiled in 2018 by the late Queen Elizabeth II, this stunning new building was named in honour of the then HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay — now His Majesty King Charles III — a keen supporter through his charity, The Prince’s Foundation.
With a range of facilities, the Pavilion features a fascinating display of objects, photographs, documents and costumes exploring the history of the Highland games, focusing on the unique story of the Braemar Gathering and the organisation behind it — the Braemar Royal Highland Society.
DISCOVER THE PAVILION
THE DUKE OF
ROTHESAY HIGHLAND
GAMES PAVILION
THE GATHERING CAFÉ
Located within the Pavilion, in the Wirth Family Room, The Gathering Café is a warm and comfortable spot for food and refreshments. Elegantly furnished, with touches of the Duke of Rothesay tartan, the café has a beautiful outlook onto the grounds of the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park.
Unfortunately for the 2024 season the Café will not be open
PAVILION OPENING TIMES
Opening April 3rd 2024 Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm until October 31st 2024
VISITOR INFO
Visiting the various exhibits in the Pavilion is self-guided but a member of the staff / volunteer team will be on hand to answer any questions.
Adult visitors are asked for a suggested donation of £5.00 (£1.00 for children 5-11, under-5s free) to help support the ongoing work to preserve and display heritage items.
Parking is free of charge for cars and coaches.
PRIVATE HIRE
The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion is the perfect space for an intimate wedding, private dinner or corporate event.
Nestled beneath beautiful heather-strewn mountains, it’s a truly unique venue that showcases the best of Scotland for guests from near and far. The Pavilion can be exclusively hired for dinners, intimate weddings and corporate events, and smaller gatherings can make use of the private dining / meeting room facilities.
Our in-house team will support you with planning and delivering your event — from corporate dinners to Highland Games demos. All of these events can be catered for through our in-house team or by our dedicated catering partner.
Main Exhibitions
J.S MILNE GALLERY
Want to know how a caber is tossed, or what ‘piobaireachd’ is? This part of the Pavilion is where you’ll find the answers to all your Highland Games related questions. The stunning beamed gallery space, walled with French windows overlooking the games park, has an array of informative and interesting display boards for your perusal.
On the walls you’ll see photographs of Gatherings past and the athletes that participated over the years, while four trophy cabinets display Highland Games trophies and tankards from various eras.
KAUFMANN EXHIBITION HALL
The Exhibition Hall is the heart of The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion, with its spectacular decorated ceiling and octagonal shape enchanting visitors.
If you can tear your eyes away from the ceiling, in this room you’ll discover the absorbing story of the Braemar Royal Highland Society and the celebrated Braemar Gathering. Told through objects, costumes, photographs and documents from the BRHS archive, the collection of The Scottish Tartans Authority and other private sources, this is the story of how a village society created an annual event that has become one of the most famous Highland Games in the world.
BAXTER ROOM
This room features key aspects of Braemar Royal Highland Society activity, including the impressive banner displayed in the games park every Gathering day and an honour board listing Society Presidents and other office-bearers dating back to the very first president, William Farquharson of Monaltrie.
Two display cases present a regularly updated selection of historical documents from the Braemar Royal Highland Society archive. Around the room, you’ll also see photographs of winning athletes, dancers and pipers from the most recent Braemar Gathering — bringing the Gathering’s history into the present day.