King Charles appeared in high spirits this afternoon as he attended his first Mey Highland Games since becoming monarch.
The royal, 74, sported a kilt in the Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan, to attend the annual event in John O’Groats village, Wick.
The monarch paired the traditional kilt with a green tweed jacket, matching waistcoat and chunky red woolen socks.
Arriving for the event, the King – who was holding a crook used to herd sheep – took the time to shake hands with members of the public.
After that, Charles took his place in the front row of the marquee to watch the contest – which was founded in 1970 and is said to be the smallest of the Highland Games – begin.
King Charles pictured happily shaking hands with members of the public as he arrived at the Highland Games in Wick this afternoon
Once seated in the royal box, King Charles – who was presented with the ancient symbols of Scottish power at a historic thanksgiving service last month – put on his sunglasses and happily sipped a glass of whiskey while watching some of the traditional dances.
The Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan is a variant of the Royal Stewart tartan, which traces its origins to the House of Stewart, according to the Scottish Register of Tartans.
King Charles has been pictured wearing the tartan on several occasions over the years – including to watch around the Queen’s coffin in September 2022.
There are more than 60 Highland Games in Scotland every year – but the Braemar Gathering, held every September, was a highlight for the late Queen.
Last year, Her Majesty was unable to attend the event due to health issues, meaning Charles had to replace his mother at the last minute.
Earlier this week, King Charles opened eco-friendly local business 8 Doors Distillery near Wick.
Charles spends the first week of August at Castle Mey in Caithness, the former home of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, before being joined at Birkhall by his wife.
Palace sources told the Daily Mail this week there were no plans to mark the first anniversary of the Queen’s death on September 8.
The monarch, 74, seen sitting in the royal box and watching a traditional dance before the games start
King Charles happily groomed a glass of whiskey and kept his butt, which is used to herd sheep
King Charles wore a kilt emblazoned with the Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan, to attend the annual event in the village of John O’Groats
The monarch, 74, pictured speaking with members of the public at the Mey Highland Games, which is near Mey Castle
People pictured taking part in the Caber toss at the Mey Highland Games in Scotland this afternoon
Pictured: Teams fell in the mud as they took part in the tug of war at the Mey Highland Games
The monarch paired the traditional kilt with a green tweed jacket and matching waistcoat and chunky red woolen socks
King Charles put on a pair of sunglasses as the weather improved in Wick this afternoon
King Charles pictured watching the Highland Games with his late mother Queen Elizabeth in September 2010
Her Majesty is expected to spend the day quietly reflecting on the moment at Birkhall, her home on the Balmoral estate.
While various family members will have come and gone from Balmoral for the summer holidays in the usual way, Their Majesties will spend September 8 “quietly and privately”, as Queen Elizabeth did on the occasion of the anniversary of his father’s death, they pointed out.
Queen Elizabeth always spent the anniversary of the death of her late father, King George VI, privately at Sandringham.
Among the extended Windsor clan due to stay at Balmoral this year are the Prince and Princess of Wales with George, Charlotte and Louis; the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their teenage children, Louise and James; Princess Anne and her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, as well as her son Peter Phillips and daughter Zara Tindall, both with their offspring; and Charles’ cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto.
Charles continues a tradition by visiting the Mey Highland Games which his grandmother used to attend every year before her death in 2002.
The Queen Mother had strong ties to Caithness after buying Castle Mey in 1952 and became a patron of the games soon after.
