Charles Visits Art School and Clutha

The Prince of Wales has signed a ukulele for auction on a visit to the Glasgow pub where a helicopter crash claimed 10 lives.

Charles was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall on a visit to the Clutha bar, where a police helicopter plunged through the roof on November 29 2013.

Charles and Camilla signed a special instrument that will be auctioned to raise funds for the Clutha Trust, a charity working to support young people in the aftermath of the crash, and the Prince's Trust.

The Prince visited the site days after the tragedy to speak to survivors and emergency workers and signed the city's book of condolence.

On a return visit with Camilla today, he was greeted by owner Alan Crossan and stopped to admire the mural of well-known faces painted on the outside of the bar, including one of comic Spike Milligan who the Prince admired.

The royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, passed through the Clutha to the bar's garden area where they met representatives from the Clutha Trust, the Prince's Trust, the Gorbals Barn Project and Royston Youth Action.

Charles signed and dated the ukelele before enjoying a drink in the adjoining Victoria bar and listening to a performance by musicians from the Prince's Trust.

The Clutha has been shut since the night of the tragedy, with building work ongoing to refurbish the property.

Earlier, Charles visited the fire-damaged Glasgow School of Art (GSA) as funds continue to be raised for its repair work.

It was on May 23 last year, as students were preparing for their degree shows, when flames engulfed the Grade A-listed Charles Rennie Mackintosh building, with its prized library being one of the main casualties.

Charles donned a hard hat to go inside and see the damage and the plans to restore the famous building, which was designed and built more than a century ago.

GSA director Tom Inns and board member Muriel Gray took the Prince to former studios destroyed in the east wing of the building, and he was shown an original lantern from the Mackintosh chandelier that was recovered in excavation work after the fire.

As a patron of the school, Charles was said to be "genuinely shocked'' by the extent of the damage on his first visit since the fire.

Mr Inns said: "He's always been a great supporter of the school. He's very passionate about traditional crafts and art and design - all things that are important to us as a school and as part of the work to bring this building back.

"He had seen pictures of the damage but he was genuinely shocked to see it up close.

"He was explaining how the Royal Family dealt with the Windsor Castle fire so I think he really understands how complex it is to deal with something like this.''

Work led by Page\Park Architects is expected to start on restoration work in spring next year with the hope that there will be academic access from 2017-18.

A fire investigation last year confirmed that the blaze began when a projector ignited gases from expanding foam used in a student project.

Mr Inns said: "The fundraising will continue, there is insurance money but there are a lot of things we need to do that are out-with what that covers.

"The exact amount is still to be determined but we're looking at somewhere between £25 million and £35 million to restore it fully and bring it back as an art school.''

As Charles left the school he was greeted by a small crowd of people who snapped pictures on their mobile phones.

The Prince spoke to some of those who had gathered and asked them about their links to the school before he left for the Clutha.