King Charles enjoyed the tipple as he took in the Mey Highland Games in Scotland, an annual sporting event held in Caithness, where he watched the traditional tug o’ war and other events
King Charles couldn’t resist the local favourite as he kicked back with a whisky at the Mey Highland Games in Scotland.
Wearing his traditional kilt as he took in a number of traditional sports in the north of the country, the Monarch greeted spectators and competitors enjoying the annual Caithness event.
The sovereign has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his mother, the late Queen. Today, he watched on as athletes participated in the traditional tug o’ war, with a group of firefighters taking part before shaking hands with the group after they won the competition.
Other groups to meet the King included the Wounded Highlanders, a team of injured military veterans who regularly take part in the adaptive competitions in the Mey Highland Games.
Charles, 77, also saw the tossing of the caber – which involves entrants carrying a long and heavy tree trunk and throwing it in an attempt to turn it end over end.
Troupes of Highland dancers and pipe bands also took part in the Highland Games. The Mey Highland Games takes place each year at the John O’Groats showground, traditionally on the first Saturday of August.
The first Mey Games was held in the nearby village of Mey in 1970 to celebrate the late Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. As guest of honour on the day, she declared the event a success and encouraged its organisers to make it an annual event.
The event has grown considerably since it was founded in 1970 and around 2,000 people can turn out for it.
The King’s visit to the Mey Highland Games took place as his son William, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, attended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow along with his wife and children. Kate, the Duchess of Rothesay – along with Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George – joined spectators watching netball at the Hydro arena.
Last year, the King started flogging a bottle of whisky that might give buyers a headache.. it costs £3,200 a bottle.
The tipple has been made to celebrate the monarch’s 75th birthday. Bosses at the Buckingham Palace shop reveal: “This Balmoral whisky comes from cask number 1838, distilled on November 7 1978, was tasted by The King before 253 bottles were filled and numbered by hand on November 14 2023, His Majesty’s 75th birthday.
“The bottles feature a gold engraving of the Balmoral crest with His Majesty’s Cypher at its centre. Further rooting this special whisky on Royal Deeside, each bottle is presented in a wooden case handcrafted from windblown larch from the Balmoral Estate and incorporating Balmoral Tweed.
“It also features an innovative material from a forest below the sea: zero-waste seaweed paper made by Notpla, a winner of The Earthshot Prize, of which Prince William, The Duke of Rothesay, is Founder and President.”
