Enjoying your retirement, Philip? Duke of Edinburgh and Queen lead royal party at Braemar Gathering as Charles larks around on an invisible motorbike
Her majesty looked in high spirits as she watched the Braemar Gathering today
Prince Charles, Princess Anne and newly retired Prince Philip also attended
Visitors watched Highland dancing and tug-of-war contests in Scottish village
Thousands attended the annual Gathering which has a 900-year history
The Queen looked in high spirits as she, Prince Charles and Princess Anne were joined by the newly retired Duke of Edinburgh at the Braemar Gathering in Scotland today.
Her Majesty, wearing a pink hat and carrying a black handbag, was seen smiling as she cheered on competitors at the Gathering – the biggest event in the Highland Games calendar.
The monarch, 91, was pictured sharing a joke with her son Charles, and they giggled in their traditional dress as Philip watched the Games unfold in the village of Braemar, 58 miles west of Aberdeen.
Held at the village’s Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, the annual Games take place on the first Saturday of September.
They attract thousands of visitors from around the world who watch a variety of traditional events and competitions including piping, Highland dancing and tug-of-war contests.
The Gathering is held each year just a short distance from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, where the royals spend their holidays. Traditionally, the royals attend a church service at nearby Crathie Kirk the day after the Games.
It has a long history and dates back more than 200 years in its modern form.
But there have been Gatherings of one sort or another at Braemar since the days of King Malcolm Canmore, nine hundred years ago.
Queen Victoria first attended the Braemar Gathering in 1848. Since then it has been regularly visited by the reigning monarch and other members of the Royal Family.
Anne wore a crimson coat, dark blue hat and light blue kilt.
Both the Queen and Princess Royal were each seen holding heather posies while they watched the event on Saturday.
Prince Philip seemed to enjoy himself at the Gathering, just a month after he officially retired.
Despite his stepping down from public duties, he will continue his association with more than 780 organisations of which he is a patron, president or member of, though he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements.
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His particular fields of interest include scientific and technological research, industry, the environment and sport.
In recent years, he has been admitted to hospital on a number of occasions for abdominal surgery, bladder infections and a blocked coronary artery.
Philip has carried out more than 22,000 solo engagements in his long career and given more than 5,000 speeches.
Philip’s appearances out and about with the Queen in the public eye since the start of 2017 have ranged from feeding an elephant at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to attending the official opening of the Metropolitan Police headquarters at New Scotland Yard.
Solo engagements by the 96-year-old also included opening the new Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and meeting actor Tom Cruise at a Buckingham Palace dinner to mark the 75th anniversary of the Outward Bound Trust.
Source: DAILYMAIL MAILONLINE
Tags: Prince Charles, Prince Phillips, Occasions, Abdominal, Speeches, Engagements, Headquarters, Gathering, retirement, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen, braemar Gathering, Charles larks, King Malcolm Canmore, nine hundred years ago, Solo engagements, by the 96-year-old, Outward Bound Trust
