King Charles has paid a poignant visit to the Cairngorms National Park, meeting members who helped tackle a devastating wildfire that tore through the Scottish Highlands this summer.
The King was pictured speaking with those involved in the emergency response to the Glenmore and Abernethy wildfire, which swept across around 3,300 hectares of countryside during July and August.
More than 500 firefighters were involved in the operation as the flames threatened homes, businesses, campsites and the surrounding area, prompting evacuations.
During his visit, Charles heard firsthand accounts from some of the people who found themselves on the frontline of the major environmental incident.
The Palace shared a series of photographs and video from the visit on Instagram, revealing the King speaking with Tracy Stakely of the US National Park Service, as well as local responders and Junior Rangers.
Cairngorms National Park is preparing to formally twin with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, creating a “Sister Parks” partnership centred on protecting the natural landscapes and wildlife shared by the two regions.
As part of the occasion, the King viewed a specially placed granite stone commemorating the twinning of the two mountain landscapes.
The permanent marker provides a physical reminder of the growing relationship between the parks and the countries they represent.
Earlier this year, during his address to the US Congress, Charles spoke about the mountains of Scotland and Appalachia that they were once part of one continuous mountain range formed millions of years ago.
2026-09-16 22:43:00
