Prince Charles Upgraded by RSPBA

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Associations (RSPBA) has officially upgraded the Prince Charles Pipe Band of San Francisco to Grade 1.

The move comes after over seven months of controversy since the band’s entry in the Grade 1 contest at the 2001 World Pipe Band Championships was rejected only weeks before the event was to take place, leaving the band scrambling to adjust for the Grade 2 contest.

After an appeal to stay in Grade 1 was rejected by the RSPBA, the band played in Grade 2 and finished fourth. It had won the Grade 2 event in 2000.

The RSPBA’s National Council accepted the recommendation of the association’s Music Committee at a meeting on February 2nd. The Prince Charles band apparently had compiled letters of recommendation from judges to help its case.

It is not know at this time whether the bands that finished ahead of Prince Charles at the 2001 World’s will also be upgraded. In order of their finish, these are the Queensland Highlanders (Australia), the Niagara Regional Police (Canada), and the Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary (Scotland).

Ravara, which finished sixth at the World’s in Grade 2 but won every other major championship, was officially upgraded to Grade 1 after the 2001 season.

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