Wearing his traditional kilt, King Charles greeted spectators and competitors as he took in the annual Mey Highland Games in the north of Scotland. The monarch, 77, watched on as athletes took part in the traditional tug o’ war, and shook hands with a group of firefighters after they won the competition.
He also met the Wounded Highlanders, a team of injured military veterans who regularly compete in the adaptive events at the games.
Chieftain for more than two decades
Charles has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his mother, the late Queen. During the games, he also saw the tossing of the caber, in which entrants carry a long, heavy tree trunk and throw it in an attempt to turn it end over end.
Troupes of Highland dancers and pipe bands also performed.
A celebration born in 1970
The Mey Highland Games takes place each year at the John O’Groats showground, traditionally on the first Saturday of August. The first event was held in the nearby village of Mey in 1970 to celebrate the late Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. She was guest of honour and declared the event a success, encouraging organisers to make it an annual occasion.
The event has grown considerably since then, with around 2,000 people attending. The King’s visit coincided with his son William, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, attending the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with his family. Kate, the Duchess of Rothesay, and Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George watched netball at the Hydro arena.
A royal whisky
Last year, the King began selling a bottle of whisky that costs £3,200. The tipple was made to celebrate the monarch’s 75th birthday.
Bosses at the Buckingham Palace shop reveal: “This Balmoral whisky comes from cask number 1838, distilled on November 7 1978, was tasted by The King before 253 bottles were filled and numbered by hand on November 14 2023, His Majesty's 75th birthday.
The bottles feature a gold engraving of the Balmoral crest with His Majesty's Cypher at its centre. Further rooting this special whisky on Royal Deeside, each bottle is presented in a wooden case handcrafted from windblown larch from the Balmoral Estate and incorporating Balmoral Tweed.
It also features an innovative material from a forest below the sea: zero-waste seaweed paper made by Notpla, a winner of The Earthshot Prize, of which Prince William, The Duke of Rothesay, is Founder and President.”
