In mummy’s memory: King Charles and Queen Camilla represent the Royal Family at his mother’s favourite event as they attend first Highland Games since she died
- The games were a favourite of the late Queen who rarely missed the spectacle
King Charles III has paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as he attended the Highland Games today – an event that was a firm favourite of the monarch.
The King represented the Royal Family at the event alongside his wife Queen Camilla – the first since the Queen Elizabeth’s death.
The Braemar Gathering – the most famous of the Highland Games – was a particular favourite of the late monarch who rarely missed the spectacle which takes place in September each year near Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire.
The King and Queen were joined by Anne, Princess Royal, and her husband Timothy Laurence. All four Royals sat together and watched on as contestants battled it out in front of spectators.
It comes a year after the late Queen was forced to miss the event – prompting the initial grave concerns for her health, and less than a week before her passing.
Prince Charles would often accompany the monarch at the gathering which has existed in some form for 900 years.
He still attended the event last year despite officials saying that the late Queen wound not ‘for her comfort’.
Various events throughout the day include traditional Scottish games, including caber-tossing and tug-of-war.
The Braemar Gathering is the most famous of the Highland Games and is known worldwide. Each year thousands of visitors descend on this small Scottish village on the first Saturday in September to watch one of the more colourful Scottish traditions.
The Gathering has a long history and in its modern form it stretches back nearly 200 years.
Charles was wearing a kilt in the newly created King Charles III tartan at the Braemar Gathering, while Camilla wore an outfit by Mr Roy.
The Scottish Tartans Authority said: ‘The green, blue and red tartan was designed by The Scottish Tartans Authority earlier this year to mark the occasion of the coronation and in recognition of His Majesty’s strong support in preserving the culture and traditions of highland dress and Scottish tartans.
‘The unique design presented to His Majesty, is based on the Balmoral tartan sett which dates from c.1850 and continues to be worn by the King and members of the royal family today.
‘The new tartan has been officially registered with the Scottish register of tartans which is administered by the National Records of Scotland.
‘The cloth, woven in 100% Scottish wool by Lochcarron of Scotland in Selkirk, includes a central triple stripe motif (one broad and two narrow) which is a feature of royal tartans previously worn by His Majesty including the Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Rothesay Hunting and Lord of the Isles Hunting tartans.
‘The colours have been matched to the natural dyes of 18th century tartan specimens in the collection of the Scottish Tartans Authority.’
The Royal family originally started attending the games in the in the mid-1800s when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased the castle.
It comes almost a year to the day after the late Queen Elizabeth was forced to miss the event over her ailing health and mobility issues. She would pass away some days later.
Attending in place of his mother last year, the then Price Charles officially opened The Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Archway during the festival before presenting awards to the top-performing competitors as the events across the day.
The Archway was opened last year to commemorate the Queen’s historic 70 years on the throne in recognition of Her Majesty as a patron of the world-famous event.
While she could not attended in person last year, the late Queen was able to watch from the comfort of Balmoral as the events were streamed online.
