King Charles praises 'genius' of GB Energy during first appearance after Earl Spencer's explosive book

You are about to be charged £0.00* *Your gift has been applied Thank you for subscribing! King Charles praises 'genius' of GB Energy during first appearance after Earl Spencer's explosive book The monarch travelled to Aberdeen on Tuesday, amid the chaos surrounding Buckingham Palace The fearless champion of Britain, its voices and its values. Join the fight for free speech and fearless journalism. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Community Rules. Don't Miss Most Read Latest King Charles travelled to Aberdeen on Tuesday to mark the opening of Great British Energy's new headquarters, using the occasion to celebrate the region's deep-rooted engineering talent. The monarch attended a reception at the publicly owned energy investment firm's offices in Marischal Square, where he saw interactive displays showcasing Aberdeen's position as a hub of energy innovation and spoke with students from Harlaw Academy. Before revealing a plaque intended to represent the city's shift towards clean energy, the King addressed those gathered inside. "It is remarkable, always, to see the extent of all the engineering skills in this part of the world," he said. "It is a huge tribute to the effort and the genius of so many people in the north east of Scotland and wonderful to know all these traditions are breeding so many brilliant engineering brains." Today's trip marked the King's first public outing since the release of Earl Charles Spencer's explosive memoir, which has caused a considerable stir within royal circles following damning allegations against the King. During the royal visit, the state-backed firm announced £750,000 in new funding directed at skills development, training and employability programmes across the north-east. GB Energy's chief executive, Dan McGrail, said: "We are working to build a lasting legacy in Aberdeen, creating jobs, backing young people into careers in renewable energy, and being an active member of the community here for years to come." He added: "This city has powered the UK for generations and we're here because Britain's energy future lies in working alongside the people and communities who know this industry best." King Charles travelled to Aberdeen on Tuesday to mark the opening of Great British Energy's new headquarters, using the occasion to celebrate the region's deep-rooted engineering talent |PA Chairman Juergen Maier struck an optimistic tone, telling assembled employees he hoped the King's presence would serve as "a turning point for our narrative to be more and more positive about the tremendous energy future that this city and this region has". Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh hailed Aberdeen's longstanding contribution to Britain's energy supply, noting the city had sat at the heart of the national system for more than 50 years. "The skills and expertise here is why this city will remain the energy powerhouse of the future," she said. The Cabinet minister framed GB Energy's arrival as an opportunity for the next generation, pledging support for young people entering the renewables sector alongside experienced oil and gas workers already based in the region. LATEST ROYAL NEWS Before revealing a plaque intended to represent the city's shift towards clean energy, the King addressed those gathered inside |PA "As publicly-owned Great British Energy opens its doors to the city, we are backing young people to be part of this next chapter, alongside skilled oil and gas workers," she said. The company, formally established in May 2025, was designed to accelerate Britain's transition to clean energy through infrastructure investment and green project funding. Yet the fanfare was met with scepticism from the Scottish Government, which called for greater transparency around job creation at the Aberdeen base. Scottish energy minister Stephen Gethins insisted the site must now make good on Westminster's pledges to bring high-quality employment to the north-east. "It was previously said that up to 1,000 jobs could be created at GB Energy's HQ in Aberdeen and so far that has not come close to being met," he said. "We need to see an urgent timeline from the UK Government on how they will deliver." GB Energy's chief executive, Dan McGrail, said: 'We are working to build a lasting legacy in Aberdeen, creating jobs, backing young people into careers in renewable energy, and being an active member of the community here for years to come' |PA Holyrood said it would continue working with GB Energy on shared objectives, including securing investment in strategic energy infrastructure and manufacturing, as well as expanding community and local ownership of renewable energy generation. The sharpest rebuke came from the Conservative benches. Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie dismissed the entire venture as little more than a vanity project propped up by vast sums of public money. "A year since its creation and with so little to show for the astronomical sums of taxpayers' money committed to this, it's clear GB Energy will bring nothing more to Aberdeen than an office with a plaque," he said. The Tory frontbencher pointed to Labour's original pledge of 1,000 direct positions, contrasting it with the reality of just a handful of permanent employees currently in post. "With just a few dozen permanent staff, it's no surprise people across the north east believe GB Energy is just a pointless gimmick," he added. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter