His Majesty King Charles III travelled to Peterhead on Tuesday, 22 September, to hear how the town's harbour intends to be a key hub in Scotland's and the UK's shift to low-carbon energy.

The visit underscored Peterhead's opportunity to help steer energy sector change while aiming to keep the benefits — from jobs and investment to supply-chain growth — rooted in the local area and across the north east of Scotland.

His Majesty was received by the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Mr Sandy Manson, and greeted by a Guard of Honour formed by Peterhead Sea Cadets and Peterhead RNLI crew. He was introduced to Peterhead Port Authority convenor James Buchan DL, deputy convener Gavin Thain and chief executive Graeme Reid, alongside Provost of Aberdeenshire Judy Whyte and Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Jim Savege.

During a briefing from Peterhead Port Authority (PPA), The King was updated on the authority's operations, including a proposed quay extension and other strategic investments intended to support future growth.

Central to the day's message was that Peterhead is among the few UK locations where multiple elements of the energy transition are coalescing: a major commercial port; an established offshore and energy supply chain; planned electricity transmission upgrades; carbon capture and low-carbon power generation projects; emerging offshore wind activity; and a highly skilled local workforce.

His Majesty met representatives from PPA, the Peterhead Energy Transition Forum (PETF), Maritime Developments Ltd and firms involved in powering and connecting the transition, as well as local supply-chain businesses and organisations focused on developing the skills and workforce needed for the future economy. He also spoke with several port officials, including Chief Financial Officer Stephen Paterson, Harbour Master Ewan Rattray and Head of Business Development Keith Mackie.

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Leaders highlighted the strong regional collaboration already under way to create the right conditions for long-term investment and growth. Building on decades of skills, infrastructure, engineering expertise and marine capabilities, Peterhead is leveraging its strengths to embrace renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen rather than starting from scratch.

According to PETF, as much as £1 billion of investment could be drawn to the area, supporting around 8,000 jobs across renewable energy, carbon capture, hydrogen and related industries, and contributing an estimated £626 million to the local economy by 2035. PPA is viewed as central to making that vision a reality.

A core ambition is not just to host major projects, but to embed long-term jobs, skills, economic value and supply-chain opportunities within the community for future generations.

Provost of Aberdeenshire Judy Whyte said: "It was an honour to welcome King Charles to Peterhead today and I hope he gained a valuable understanding and appreciation of the incredible work taking place in the north-east of Scotland.

She added: "It was wonderful to see His Majesty taking such an interest in the organisations and businesses which are at the forefront of the energy transition and, in particular, the impressive skills development required to reach our ambitious aims."

Graeme Reid, Chief Executive of Peterhead Port Authority, said: "His Majesty's visit was a tremendous honour for Peterhead Port and a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the scale of the economic opportunity that the energy transition presents for Peterhead and the wider North-East. For more than 50 years this port and the businesses around it have supported the North Sea energy industry.

He added: "We have the skills, the experience, the supply chain and the infrastructure, and our task now is to build on those strengths for the next generation of energy development."

A key focus was enabling The King to hear from companies driving the transition. He was briefed by SSE Thermal and Storegga on the Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station and the Acorn Carbon Capture Project. He also met SSEN Transmission to discuss new grid infrastructure being delivered in Aberdeenshire and how the Peterhead Developers Forum is coordinating businesses and organisations to support that investment.

His Majesty took a close interest in efforts to coordinate the transition, led by PETF, and in skills and education initiatives. He met representatives of NESCOL and the PETF Community Wealth Working Group, along with Peterhead Academy head teacher Gerry McCluskey and pupils Ellie Hood and Liam John Hepburn.

Aberdeenshire Council officers outlined the importance of the new North East Scotland Investment Zone for Peterhead and surrounding communities. His Majesty also discussed the Investment Zone with Aberdeenshire Council's Head of Planning and Economy Paul Macari and NESIZ Project Coordinator Suzanne Robertson.

He went on to speak with representatives of Maritime Developments Limited about the firm's business and investment plans at Peterhead Port, including Chief Executive Derek Smith.

To mark the occasion, His Majesty unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit to Peterhead Port.