King Charles stepped away from his annual summer break at Balmoral on Thursday to join a milestone celebration in the Scottish Highlands.
The King travelled to Dingwall as the historic town marked 800 years since being granted Royal Burgh status, receiving a warm welcome from residents despite persistent rain.
Crowds lined the streets as His Majesty spent the afternoon meeting volunteers, local business owners, emergency service personnel, community organisations and young people from across Ross-shire.
King Charles unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the town’s 800th anniversary.
The ceremony also featured performances from Highland Young Musicians and traditional clarsach player Grace Stewart-Skinner, showcasing the area’s musical heritage.
He also recognised the work of outstanding local organisations by presenting The King’s Award for Voluntary Service to Evanton Wood Community Company and Highland and Islands Blood Bikes, honouring their dedication to communities across the Highlands.
Innovation was another key theme of the visit, with His Majesty meeting recipients of The King’s Award for Enterprise, including Highland-based businesses RSE, WoodBlocX and Fresh Marketing.
Joanie Whiteford, Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, said the visit reflected “the strength of community spirit and the remarkable creativity and talent on display” throughout the Highlands, praising everyone who helped make the occasion a success.
Councillor Margaret Paterson described the royal visit as one of the defining moments of Dingwall’s anniversary celebrations, saying it had given residents another reason to celebrate an already historic year.
The Scottish estate remains one of Charles’s favourite retreats, but, as in previous summers, the monarch continues to carry out selected public engagements while in Scotland.
2026-08-07 23:20:00
