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The King and Queen Attend the Braemar Gathering Highland Games

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The Scottish Highlands once again became the stage for history and heritage as King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended the Braemar Gathering on Saturday, upholding a royal tradition that stretches back more than 175 years.

Set in the village of Braemar, just a few miles from Balmoral, the annual games drew thousands who braved shifting skies to watch one of Scotland’s most treasured celebrations of strength, music, and community spirit.

Photo: @theroyalfamily-Instagram

The King cut a classic figure in his own tartan, deep green and red checks, paired with a tweed jacket and kilt hose with a sgian dubh tucked at his side. At his shoulder, Queen Camilla brought a softer note in a pale green coat and feathered hat. The pair settled into the Royal Pavilion shortly before midday, welcomed by cheers from the crowd.

Photo:@theroyalfamily-Instagram

What followed was tradition in its purest form. Pipe bands marched, Highland dancers whirled, and the heavy events, including the hammer throw, tug of war, and the mighty caber toss, brought bursts of applause and laughter. The weather offered its own Highland drama, with light drizzle swept away by breezes, but spirits in the arena never faltered. The Queen was spotted chatting with members of the Braemar Royal Highland Society and later greeting dancers and stewards, adding warmth to the royal presence.

A moment of solemnity threaded through the day’s revelry. The gathering fell silent for one minute in memory of the late Duchess of Kent, whose passing had been announced earlier in the week. The King and Queen bowed their heads, sharing in the hush that rippled across the grounds.

Photo: @theroyalfamily-Instagram

The monarchy’s link with Braemar is long and intimate. Queen Victoria first attended in 1848, and since then, the games have been a constant on the royal calendar. The late Queen Elizabeth II rarely missed the event, often watching with a quiet pride that reflected her deep affection for Scotland. Now her son continues the tradition, not simply as a guest, but as its custodian.

As the competitions drew to a close and prizes were presented, the King and Queen made a simple departure. There was no fanfare, just a wave of acknowledgement before leaving the arena.

For all its royal connections, the Braemar Gathering remains at heart a community affair. In a calendar crowded with ceremony, this is the monarchy at its most rooted: present not for spectacle, but for continuity, heritage, and the unbroken rhythm of the Highlands.

Royals

Westminster Abbey Hosts Wales Family for 2025 Carol Event

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Prince William and Princess Catherine attended the 2025 Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. They were joined by their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Upon arrival, the children placed their name cards on the “Connection Tree,” a feature set up at the entrance of the abbey for the service.

The Royal Family – Instagram

The event welcomed approximately 1,600 guests. Those invited included volunteers, charity workers, carers, community organisers and individuals involved in local support services across the UK. Several public figures attended as contributors to the programme.

Musical performances were provided by Katie Melua and the group Fisherman’s Friends. Readings during the service were delivered by Prince William, Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor and others who participated in the programme.

The Royal Family – Instagram

The event was hosted by Princess Catherine, who has been involved in organising this annual carol service in connection with her community and early years initiatives. Guests received a written message from her that highlighted themes of kindness, support, listening and care.

Princess Catherine returned to public engagements earlier in the year following a period of preventative chemotherapy, which had been publicly announced by her office.

The Royal Family – Instagram

The venue, programme contributors and invited guests were confirmed through public reporting by outlets such as Reuters, BBC, ITV, People Magazine, Town & Country and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as information shared by Westminster Abbey.

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Kate Middleton Balances Old and New With a Standout Mocha DeMellier Bag

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The Princess of Wales visited the Anna Freud Centre in London, drawing attention from UK fashion reporters after arriving with DeMellier’s Small Hudson bag in mocha suede. The bag, recently highlighted by several British fashion outlets for its growing waitlist, stood out because it reflects the current rise in brown suede accessories across autumn collections.

Princess Kate – Instagram

She wore a houndstooth pencil-cut dress by Emilia Wickstead, a piece she first used in 2022. The tailored shape, long sleeves and adjustable belt gave the dress a firm structure without added decoration. She paired it with grey pointed heels and her sapphire-and-diamond earrings. The combination was straightforward and suited to the tone of a professional daytime engagement.

Princess Kate – Instagram

The decision to pair the mocha bag with cooler-toned shoes drew particular comment from London-based fashion press. Royal styling typically keeps accessories in the same colour range, so the contrast marked a small shift from traditional matching. Several outlets noted that mixing warm suede with cooler footwear has been common across this season’s UK autumn styling.

Her choice to re-wear the Wickstead dress also received attention. Reporters observed that the dress retains its shape and relevance despite being several years old, supporting her ongoing pattern of bringing earlier wardrobe pieces back into rotation instead of relying solely on new items.

Princess Kate – Instagram

The visit focused on the Anna Freud Centre’s role within the UK’s child mental health sector and its collaboration with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Her outfit aligned with the purpose of the engagement: polished, restrained and appropriate for work centred on early-years support.

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Lady Louise Windsor Highlights Local Heroes on Oxfordshire Community Tour

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Lady Louise Windsor’s recent stop in Newcastle was designed to spotlight organisations doing difficult, often overlooked work. What stood out, however, wasn’t the schedule itself, but the way she handled each encounter, with an attentiveness that made the visit feel less like a royal appearance and more like community fieldwork.

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Her first engagement at Ronald McDonald House placed her in the middle of families navigating medical uncertainty. Instead of relying on the usual formal exchanges, she asked direct, practical questions that reflected a genuine wish to understand what families endure behind closed doors. Staff members later noted that she focused less on photo opportunities and more on the emotional weight carried by parents and carers. She spent time with several families, learning about the daily routines, long-distance travel challenges, and the small comforts that make a hospital stay manageable. One parent shared how the house allowed them to stay close to their child without the strain of long commutes, and the Duchess listened attentively, acknowledging the practical difficulties alongside the emotional toll.

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At the Windale Community Hub, she moved through the building slowly, stopping to hear from volunteers who run food services, youth programmes, and household-support schemes. Rather than offering generic praise, she asked about funding gaps, demand spikes, and the realities of keeping a community space afloat. Local organisers appreciated the candour, describing the meeting as “refreshingly straightforward.” She also observed volunteers packing food parcels and running activities for children, showing an interest in the day-to-day operations and the subtle ways the hub eases pressures for families across the estate.

The Royal Family – Instagram

Her final stop at the RAW workshop took her into a lively creative space where young people work on art, craft, and design projects. She avoided the patronising tone many young artists encounter, opting instead for questions that treated their interests seriously: how long they had been practising, what obstacles they faced, and what opportunities they felt were missing. Watching trainees at work, she asked about skills development, career ambitions, and the ways the workshop supports confidence building beyond technical training.

Across all three locations, the through-line was consistency. No rushed conversations, no formulaic remarks, and no attempts at staged warmth. The visit was measured and sincere, offering each organisation something they rarely receive, unfiltered attention from someone who could help carry their stories further.

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