The Earl and Countess of Strathearn Visit the Orkney Islands

Prince William, Earl of Strathearn and Catherine, Countess of Strathearn arrive to officially open The Balfour, Orkney Hospital on day five of their week long visit to Scotland on May 25, 2021 in Kirkwall, Scotland. Recently opened in 2019, The Balfour replaced the old hospital, which had served the community for ninety years. The new facility has enabled the repatriation of many NHS services from the Scottish mainland, allowing Orkney’s population to receive most of their healthcare at home. The new building’s circular design is based on the 5000-year-old Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, making it a unique reflection of the local landscape in which many historical sites are circles.