The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles have enjoyed a long weekend together at the Castle of Mey – the Queen Mother’s beloved Scottish retreat – carrying out a series of engagements in honour of the royal matriarch. Charles and Camilla spent three days at the remote Caithness castle, which was the Queen Mother’s summer residence for 50 years, on what will have been the prince’s final visit before it opens to the public.
During their stay, Charles unveiled a memorial bench to his beloved grandmother on the site of one of her favourite beauty spots. The ceremony took place in the grounds of the 16th-century castle and was attended by around 30 trustees of the castle, former employees and various friends. Wearing Hunting Stewart tartan with a Highland Brigade tie, Charles said his grandmother had particularly loved the spectacular Scottish sunsets when she holidayed at Mey each year.
The following day, the Prince and his companion attended the Mey Highland Games – always a favourite of the royal matriarch – sitting almost together to watch the competition. Charles and Camilla were separated by only one seat, whereas previously at public events they have rarely shared the same row.
They continued a royal tradition on Sunday when they attended a church service at one of the Queen Mother’s favourite churches. As further evidence of Mrs Parker Bowles’s growing status, they arrived together at the 18th-century Canisbay Church of Scotland and sat in the same row the Queen Mother used to use. The Rev Iain Macnee was delighted to welcome the grandson of the woman he had come to know so well, along with his companion. “It’s encouraging that another royal visitor has come here,” he said.
The Queen Mother handed the Castle of Mey over to the people of Caithness when she set up a charitable trust to secure the future of the estate in 1996. It will be opened to the public for the first time on Wednesday. The Prince’s tour ends on Monday when he and Camilla return to Balmoral.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Charles and Camilla arrived together for a service at the 18th-century Canisbay Church of Scotland, and sat in the same row the Queen Mother used to use
Photo: © AFP
Photo: © Alphapress.com
On Saturday, the couple attended the Mey Highland Games, also a favourite of the Queen Mother
Photo: © PA
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Charles unveiled a memorial bench to his beloved grandmother on the site of one of her favourite beauty spots, where he said the Queen Mum had particularly loved the spectacular Scottish sunsets when she holidayed at Mey each year
Photo: © AFP
