The King of a nation is seen in a fresh image as he embarks on his summer getaway in Scotland, paying tribute to his cherished grandmother. Spending the initial week of August at the Castle and Gardens of Mey in Caithness, located in the northern part of Scotland, coinciding with the birthday of the Queen Mother. During his stay, the royal planted a special rose named the King’s Rose, a variety developed by David Austin Roses in collaboration with The King’s Foundation, in his honor, at the castle’s Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden.
This new addition, the King’s Rose, now joins two sycamore trees at the castle’s entrance that were planted by the King and Queen Camilla back in 2005 when they were known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland. The King’s Rose has also been introduced at other locations managed by The King’s Foundation – Dumfries House in East Ayrshire and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire.
The Castle and Gardens of Mey hold a special place as one of the cherished residences of the Queen Mother, who acquired the castle in 1952. Traditionally, the Queen Mother spent three weeks at the castle every August, a tradition that the King has continued since his youth. The management of the castle is now under The King’s Foundation, responsible for overseeing various green spaces of personal significance to the King. The Castle and Gardens of Mey will be open for public tours starting on Wednesday, August 12.
In recent news, the King hosted a special reception at the Castle of Mey for Scottish mountain rescue volunteers, where he recounted a harrowing experience surviving a fatal avalanche nearly four decades ago. Members of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, numbering around 40, were present at the reception, marking the group’s 50th anniversary.
During the same period, the King made an appearance at the Mey Highland Games, enjoying a sip of whiskey. Clad in his customary kilt, he mingled with spectators and participants at the Caithness event on a Saturday. Since 2002, the King has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games, taking over from his grandmother, the late Queen Mother.
Witnessing athletes engage in the traditional tug o’ war, including a team of firefighters, the King congratulated the victorious group with a handshake. Among the groups he met were the Wounded Highlanders, a team of military veterans with injuries who regularly participate in adaptive competitions during the Mey Highland Games. The annual event takes place at the John O’Groats showground, usually on the first Saturday of August.
