Monarch begins his annual summer stay in the Highlands with a traditional greeting
King Charles has officially begun his summer stay at Balmoral, marked by a traditional Highland welcome at the gates of his Aberdeenshire residence.
Dressed in a tartan kilt and jacket, the King inspected the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Corps of Signals set the tone with stirring music as the monarch carried out the ceremonial arrival.
Adding a lighter touch to the formalities, Charles was greeted by Corporal Cruachan IV, the Royal Regiment’s Shetland pony mascot. The pony nuzzled into the King’s hand during the inspection, echoing the playful encounters once shared between Cruachan and the late Queen.
The reception not only signalled the start of the King’s annual stay in the Highlands but also highlighted the blend of tradition, ceremony and affection that has long defined the Royal Family’s summers at Balmoral.
