King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Balmoral for their summer break, with the King taking the wheel of an Audi 4x4 to drive them to Crathie Kirk church service on Sunday. The monarch, 76, appeared cheerful, smiling at onlookers, while Camilla wore a feathered hat and smiled from the passenger seat.
The outing comes shortly after Charles delivered a poignant audio message for VJ Day on 15 August, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He warned against forgetting the 'service and sacrifice of the wartime generation' and stressed the importance of international cooperation.
In his message, recorded at Clarence House, Charles said: 'Those heroes of VJ Day gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected.' He highlighted how countries learned to coordinate across distances, faiths and cultures, adding that 'the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link.'
On VJ Day, Charles, in military uniform, attended a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where he spoke with Alfred Conway, a veteran who served with Prince Philip. Queen Camilla was also present, visibly moved as she wiped a tear during the service. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria attended as well.
