The King of a country recently wore his traditional Scottish kilt as he commenced his summer vacation in Scotland to pay tribute to his grandmother. During the first week of August, the King visited the Castle and Gardens of Mey in Caithness, located in the northern part of Scotland, to coincide with the Queen Mother’s birthday. While there, he planted a rose known as the King’s Rose, specially bred by David Austin Roses in collaboration with The King’s Foundation and dedicated to him. This symbolic rose was planted in the Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden of the castle.
The King’s Rose has also been planted at two other locations associated with The King’s Foundation – Dumfries House in East Ayrshire and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire. The Castle and Gardens of Mey, a cherished residence of the Queen Mother, was acquired by her in 1952. Traditionally, she spent three weeks at the castle every August, a tradition that the King, who has visited from a young age, continues to uphold. Presently, the Castle and Gardens of Mey are managed by The King’s Foundation, which oversees several significant green spaces personally connected to the King. The Castle and Gardens of Mey will be open for public tours starting on Wednesday, August 12.
Recently, the King hosted a special reception at the Castle of Mey for Scottish mountain rescue volunteers, where he recounted surviving a fatal avalanche nearly four decades ago. The Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, consisting of 40 members, were present at the event, marking their 50th anniversary.
The King shared his experience of surviving an avalanche in 1988 that tragically claimed the life of his close friend, Major Hugh Lindsay, who had served as an equerry to the late Queen Elizabeth, and injured another individual while skiing in Switzerland. This reception coincided with the King’s attendance at the Mey Highland Games, where he was seen enjoying a dram of whisky.
Clad in his customary kilt, the King interacted with spectators and participants at the Caithness event. He has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, succeeding his grandmother, the late Queen Mother. The King witnessed various competitions, including the traditional tug o’ war, where he congratulated a group of firefighters for their victory.
Among the groups the King met were the Wounded Highlanders, a team of injured military veterans who regularly participate in adaptive contests at the Mey Highland Games. This annual event is held at the John O’Groats showground on the first Saturday of August.
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