A Jack Russell from Thurso had a bit of a surprise last week, when it looked down the stethoscope to find Prince Charles at the other end.

The slightly unlikely encounter happened when the prince visited the newly-extended North Highland College Rural Studies Centre.

The purpose-built centre, which houses veterinary nursing, gamekeeping and equestrian students, boasts a nurse training area complete with theatre, prep room, isolation area and consultation room, where Prince Charles was invited to watch a bandaging demonstration and listen to the dog's heart murmur.

Over seventy guests attended the event and were introduced to Prince Charles before he was presented with a gift from vet nursing student Paula Morgan. Paula from Ayrshire, who is a former veterinary nursing student of the College said: "The facility is an absolutely fantastic asset to the College. It is so good for students having the equestrian studies section based just across the courtyard here too! It was a great honour to present Prince Charles with his gift at his visit to the newly revamped centre."

Alternative picture caption, anyone?

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