King Charles dons a kilt and shares a giggle with sister Anne as the siblings attend
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 King and Queen were joined by Anne, Princess Royal, and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, as the royal siblings sat next to each other and shared a giggle.
The Braemar Gathering – the most famous of the Highland Games – was a particular favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth, who rarely missed the spectacle which takes place in September each year near Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire.
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.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and Anne, the Princess Royal, were pictured laughing together as they attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park
Queen Camilla smiled at the crowd as she attended the Braemar Gathering alongside her husband, King Charles III
Anne, Princess Royal, wore a red jacket and a tartan skirt as she attended the Braemar Gathering with King Charles and Queen Camilla
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Braemar Gathering highland games held a short distance from the royals’ summer retreat at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire
Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla arrive to attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland
Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (left), Britain’s King Charles III (centre), Britain’s Queen Camilla (right) and Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal (third left) attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar
The late Queen Elizabeth II is pictured at the Braemar Highland Games in September 2010 alongside her son, then Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles would often accompany the monarch at the gathering which has existed in some form for 900 years – and its most modern form stretching’s back nearly 200 years.
Then the Prince of Wales, Charles still attended the event last year despite officials saying at the time that the the decision was made that the late Queen wound not be there ‘for her comfort’.
The festival is known to attract visitors from all over the world and frequently featurs competitors from Scotland, England, Australia and America.
Various events throughout the day include traditional Scottish games, including caber-tossing and tug-of-war, and take place at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar.
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.
From left to right: Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Anne, Princess Royal, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend The Braemar Gathering 2023
King Charles III looks inquisitive at the Braemar Gathering Annual for 2023 during the Highland Games event
King Charles looks delighted as he claps his hands at the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, central Scotland, today
King Charles III exits a car as he arrives to attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, central Scotland
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were also in attendance for the Braemar Gathering highland games
Queen Camilla smiles at Braemar Gathering attendees as she walks with husband King Charles
Queen Camilla arrives at the Braemar Gathering highland games held a short distance from the royals’ summer retreat at the Balmoral estate
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrive at the Braemar Gathering highland games held a short distance from the royals’ summer retreat at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire
The King looks of the window, as Queen Camilla is seen sat net to him, at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park
Anne, the Princess Royal, smiled as she looked out of the car at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering
The Royal Family attended the Braemar Games back in 1975. From left to right: The then Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, The Queen Mother, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Queen Elizabeth ll, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince William attend the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on September 3, 2005
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh and Princes Andrew and Edward, with the Queen Mother in the back ground, at the Braemar Games in September 1975
Queen Elizabeth II looked tense as she watched on at the Braemar Highland Games in 2007
The King wore a kilt to the games, donning the newly created King Charles III tartan, while Camilla wore an outfit by Mr Roy.
‘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 Scottish Tartans Authority said of the tartan.
‘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.’
A man competes, during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar
A competitor takes part in the Caber toss competition during The Braemar Gathering today
Caber toss competitors attempt to throw the giant log at the Braemar Gathering today
A dancer takes part in the Highland Fling dance competition during The Braemar Gathering
Competitors take part in the Tug Of War competition during The Braemar Gathering
A team of men struggle as they take on the Tug Of War at the Braemar Gathering today
The Union Flag is seen flying over spectators attending The Braemar Gathering today
The Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar is full with spectators watching the games today
King Charles presents a trophy to Kyle Randalls (right) during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering
Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (L), Britain’s King Charles III (C), Britain’s Queen Camilla (R) and Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal (3L) attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar
Strictly star Hamza Yassin gestures during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar
People play bagpipes during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar
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.