02-07-2025
King Charles and Queen Camilla brave the rain to meet Scots at war memorial before greeting former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
King Charles greeted former Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a visit to Kirkcaldy Art Gallery on Wednesday.
The 76-year-old is carrying out several engagements alongside Queen Camilla, 77, as Royal Week continues in Scotland.
Charles, dressed in a dapper, brown overcoat, and Camilla started the day in Kirkcaldy, Fife, where they marked the centenary of the town's war memorial, and unveiled a commemoration cairn.
Crowds lined the streets to meet the royal couple, and the monarch shared a sweet moment with a toddler waiting to greet him in the rain, gently touching her hand as onlookers snapped pictures.
Later in the day, the royal father-of-two met Gordon Brown, 74, who served as the leader of the Labour party from 2007 to 2010, before joining a community reception to celebrate the work of local charities and community organisations.
Elsewhere today, Camilla is due to travel to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where she will host a reception for the Queen's Nursing Institute of Scotland.
Founded in 1899 with a donation from Queen Victoria to organise the training of district nurses, today the charity provides professional development opportunities for Scotland's community nurses and midwives.
It also supports them in working collaboratively with those they care for to tackle health inequalities.
The King traditionally spends a week at the Palace of Holyroodhouse each year, based on what is known as Holyrood Week or Royal Week in Scotland.
Yesterday, Princess Anne joined Charles and Camilla at the Sovereign's Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
During the event, King Charles gave his backing to his first female Scottish bodyguards.
The Royal Company of Archers serve as the Sovereign's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland and have now, for the first time, accepted women.
Charles spoke to Lady Katherine Douglas, 35, one of the first women to sign up, during the garden party.
Lady Katherine also competed on the women's eights rowing team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Her father, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Callander, who served as the Lord-Lieutenant of Midlothian, was on duty in his final year with The Royal Company of Archers.
Lady Katherine said afterwards: 'The King asked if I had ever done any archery and I said I had not.
Before greeting the young child, the 76-year-old royal chatted with her mother and shook her hand
'He said when he did archery the arrows were still in the shrubbery and I said mine will probably be the same.
'He said it is about time that women are allowed and he was very happy about it.
'My uncle was in the Archers and this is his last garden party as at 75 they have to retire.'
Queen Camilla chatted to visitors including Campbell Archibald, 52, of charity DD8 Music in Kirriemuir, in Angus, who was dressed head to toe in tartan twill, and blue shoes.
She said: 'Amazing twill. You look very smart. Lovely to meet you. And your shoes.'
Campaigners from anti-monarchy group Republic unfurled a banner on a hill in Holyrood Park overlooking the garden party which said 'Not My King' but was largely illegible to partygoers.
Christie Etukudor, who was accompanied by her husband, Idara, met the Queen as representative of the Rotary Club of Edinburgh.
She said: 'We are the second largest in the UK and are 100 years old. The Queen told me that she has agreed to become patron of the Rotary Club.
'Our last patron was the Duke of Edinburgh who held the role for 50 years and we haven't had one since he died, so it's very exciting. She is very passionate about volunteering so it's a perfect match.'
Another wellwisher told the Queen: 'Welcome to Scotland. We are really pleased to see you. You are a wonderful asset.'
Earlier that day, the King was greeted with pipes and drums - plus bows and arrows - as he arrived for his traditional official week in Scotland.
Charles was given a Royal Salute and Guard of Honour as he inspected The Royal Company of Archers, The King's Bodyguard for Scotland, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, which is his official residence in the capital.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday morning, shortly after the King and Queen had arrived at the palace in a claret liveried helicopter, one of two new aircrafts acquired by the palace.
Each year, the monarch traditionally spends a week based at Holyroodhouse, an event known as Holyrood Week or Royal Week in Scotland.
Upon his arrival, Charles also took part in the Ceremony of the Keys - an official welcome to the Scottish city.
The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge presented keys to the city of Edinburgh to the King, who then immediately returned them for 'safe keeping'.
During the visit on Wednesday, Charles laid a wreath at Kirkcaldy War Memorial, as part of his trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week
Pictured: King Charles observed a minute silence after laying a wreath at Kirkcaldy War Memorial
The Lord Provost said to the King: 'We, the Lord Provost and the members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the Capital City of your Ancient and Hereditary Kingdom of Scotland and offer for your gracious acceptance the Keys of Your Majesty's good City of Edinburgh.'
The King replied: 'I return these keys, being perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and Councillors of my good City of Edinburgh.'
Before the ceremony, the palace's garden was transformed into a parade ground and the King met senior military and uniformed figures.
He then received a royal salute and inspected a Guard of Honour of soldiers from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland - a role first created in 1822 for King George VI.
Also lined up was the Palace Guard made up of soldiers from Balaklava Company, five Scots, and the High Constables of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Music at the official welcome was provided by The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Renditions included, 'I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)' by the Scottish duo Proclaimers, and 'Counting Stars' by One Republic.
The King walked past the Guard of Honour, casting his eye over the service personnel and stopping to talk to some of them, and he also chatted to members of the military bands.
Charles appeared in high spirits as he greeted Gordon Brown with a firm handshake in Scotland today
Around 250 people were invited as a thank you for their work in the local community to watch the ceremony in the palace garden on July 1.
Also in Scotland for Royal Week celebrations is Camilla, who visited Ratho Library on the outskirts of Edinburgh for her first engagement of the day.
The royal, who is a passionate advocate for literacy and literature, urged people to 'keep on reading', as she revealed new research showed that just ten minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 20 per cent.
Speaking about the research commissioned by her Queen's Reading Room charity, Camilla said: 'Neuroscientists have been looking at the power of reading and it's just been proved that ten minutes a day reduces stress by 20 per cent.
'Just ten minutes. So just keep on reading!'
