Prince Charles has met a young fishing boat skipper as he began a series of engagements in Aberdeenshire.

Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland, arrived in the burgundy royal helicopter in the grounds of the Thainstone House Hotel in Inverurie.

Wearing a Duke of Rothesay kilt, a King's Regiment tie and Prince's Trust lapel badge, the Prince was greeted by the hotel's general manager David McDonald.

He took time to listen to a presentation from the Fishing into the Future training course being held at the hotel.

The event, about sustainable fishing, was attended by 25 industry representatives and organisations including father and son fishermen Mark and David Robertson, from Gordonstoun.

While there, the Prince also met Adam, 25, who now has his skipper's ticket and is in charge of a crew of five.

He said: "There's a lot of conflict between scientists and fishermen, but he seemed quite interested and was asking about the course, how it was going and if I'd recommend it to anyone else."

The Prince was accompanied by Aberdeenshire Lord Lieutenant James Ingleby and his wife Moira.

He will later visit the Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead.

The academy is the maritime centre of excellence of North East Scotland College, which serves the needs of the fishing, merchant navy and energy sectors.

He will tour the academy and meet staff and students who have just completed the introduction to seafishing course.

It is an approved training provider for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Merchant Navy Training Board, the Association of Marine Electronic and Radio Colleges, the Royal Yacht Association and Seafish.

While in Peterhead, Charles will also visit a Prince's Trust project to meet young people who have just completed the trust's Team Programme.

This is a development scheme for young people aged between 16 and 25 which gives them the opportunity to develop their confidence, motivation and skills through a programme of individual challenges and teamwork in the community.

The Prince will also visit Gray & Adams in nearby Fraserburgh, where he will tour the factory, meet staff and long-serving employees and unveil a plaque to mark the company's 60th anniversary.

Gray & Adams was founded in 1957 by panel beater Jim Gray and motor mechanic Jim Adams, who teamed up to form a car body repair business. It now manufactures temperature-controlled bodywork for trucks and vans of all sizes up to 32 tonnes.

The Prince will also carry out an engagement in Portsoy, where he will open the Sail Loft Bunkhouse and meet the restoration team who converted 18th-century sailmakers' cottages.