King Charles received an official welcome to Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Following the royal tradition beloved by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, King Charles will spend time at the 7,000-acre estate located in Aberdeenshire in the Scottish Highlands in the coming weeks. The stay in Scotland served as a summer break for the late Queen, where she would spend time with her family and relax (while still reading the diplomatic papers delivered daily in the famous “red boxes”).
The King, 74, was welcomed to the royal residence on Monday with a small ceremony outside the castle gates. King Charles, who was recently announced as the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, inspected a Guard of Honour of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Pipes and Drums of 4 SCOTS performed at the ceremony.
In what has become another royal tradition, King Charles met Corporal Cruachan IV — a Shetland pony who serves as the mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The King exchanged a few words with the pony’s handler and even gave Cruachan a pet on the nose — but the mascot isn’t always on his best behavior in the presence of monarchs.
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King Charles and Corporal Cruachan IV at Balmoral Castle on August 21, 2023.
Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty
In 2018, the pony relieved himself during the ceremonial welcome to Balmoral Castle, causing Queen Elizabeth to turn away and shield her nose from the smell with her hand.
The previous year, Cruachan tried to take a nibble of a bundle of flowers being held by the Queen during a visit to Stirling Castle.
Queen Elizabeth once quipped, “Here we are again,” upon seeing the pony.
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Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle in August 2018.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty
At Monday’s ceremony, King Charles wore traditional Scottish garb, including a kilt, knee socks and a sporran (a pouch — after all, kilts traditionally don’t have pockets!).
The King was also spotted chatting with members of the public who came to see the official welcome.
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King Charles welcomed to Balmoral Castle on August 21, 2023.
Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty
On Thursday, Balmoral Castle announced that the grounds, gardens and exhibitions of the estate were now closed to the public, hinting that King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family would be gathering at the residence in the coming weeks.
Since 1845 — when Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, purchased the castle and the surrounding estate located — Balmoral has been used by the royal family to entertain friends, hold dances, picnic and go on shooting parties.
Returning to Balmoral will no doubt be bittersweet for members of the royal family this year. In addition to holding special memories through the years, Queen Elizabeth died at age 96 at her beloved summer residence on Sept. 8, 2022 — just days after her final royal duty.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla, 76, are expected to spend the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death privately, just as Queen Elizabeth used to do on her own Accession Day.
King Charles has been in Scotland for several weeks already, undertaking engagements from awarding trophies at the Mey Highland Games to sipping whisky at a new distillery.
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King Charles welcomed to Balmoral Castle on August 21, 2023.
Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s summer will almost certainly include a trip to Scotland with their three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. Just as Prince William did as a boy, his kids will likely splash in the River Dee while exploring the outdoors at the expansive rural estate before returning to school next month.
Prince William and Princess Kate, both 41, also have a special spot in their hearts for Scotland, as it’s where they first met as college students at the University of St. Andrews.
Prince William previously stated that “the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep.”
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Source: HIS Education