King Charles pictured using unusual walking stick to keep his balance

His Majesty King Charles visited the Cairngorms National Park, relying on a walking stick for support

Melanie MacleodDeputy Beauty and Lifestyle Editor

1 hour agoSep 17, 2026, 1:47 PM GMT+1

King Charles looked to be in brilliant spirits on Wednesday when he headed to the Scottish Highlands to visit the Cairngorms National Park.

His Majesty looked animated and happy as he congratulated the people involved in fighting a major wildfire that occurred there this summer.

Britain's King Charles III (2nd L) speaks with Tracy Stakely (C) of the US National Park Service (NPS), as he meets community leaders, firefighters, volunteers and landowners who played a vital role in containing the Glenmore and Abernethy wildfire in July and August, — King Charles relied on his ornate stick while traversing tricky terrain in the Scottish Highlands

The poignant engagement saw him meeting face-to-face with courageous firefighters, dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and local landowners who pulled together during this crisis.

His Majesty was photographed traversing the tricky terrain, relying on a shoulder-height shepherd's crook to steady him on the rough ground.

King Charles using a walking stick in the highlands — King Charles' stick is ornate, designed for country walking

The King's ornate stick of choice is a traditional country fair walking stick, rather than a walking aid, with the lofty cane specifically created to help in challenging conditions.

A turn in the tide

When His Majesty was spotted with a stick last summer (at both the Chelsea Flower Show and the Windsor Horse Show), royal watchers raised concerns for the King's health, fretting over his frailty, but the tide has turned now, with a wash of comments noting how brilliant the 77-year-old looked.

King Charles getting out of the car at the 2025 windsor horse trials with a walking stick — King Charles with his stick at the Windsor Horse Trials

"He looks really, really well and healthy," one praised, while another said: "I'd say Charles looks amazing."

Others commented on the uncanny similarity to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II – who was also partial to a posh walking stick.

queen elizabeth with a walkng stick and shawl — Royal watchers compared King Charles to his elderly mother

"Can really see his mother as he ages," one commented, while another said: "He does look very healthy. In the photo of the King standing alone by the display table, HM looks so like the late Queen, his mother."

King Charles smiling next to a stone in front of a lake in scotland — King Charles looked jovial during his highland visit

The season of the stick

Though walking sticks are generally associated with elderly people who require assistance to relieve pressure on painful joints and improve their balance, King Charles has been calling upon his stick collection since he was a young man – particularly when out and about enjoying country pursuits.

Also, it's important to remember that King Charles works hard on his mobility and stability; speaking to sprinter Desiree Henry, King Charles revealed that he "exercises twice a day", performing "squats and does the pull-up bar" – impressive!

Both of these moves will help His Majesty with his healthy ageing routine, and we suspect he still lives up to his "mountain goat" reputation, as revealed by Queen Camilla when talking about her husband's love of hiking.