King Charles and Camilla meet Rishi Sunak as annual Balmoral tradition continues
Rishi Sunak has joined King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a church near Balmoral during a trip to the monarch's Scottish estate.
The Prime Minister was driven to Crathie Kirk separately from the royal couple before they attended the traditional Sunday service together. The King, wearing a kilt, sat next to Camilla, who wore a green coat and hat and clutched a beige handbag on her lap, as they were driven to the 19th century parish church.
He and wife Akshata Murthy were also joined at the church by Anne, Princess Royal, and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were seen at the service as part of a September tradition upheld by the late Queen Elizabeth II (Getty Images)
Mr Sunak's stay at Balmoral Castle is one of his last engagements before Parliament returns on Monday (Getty Images)The meeting comes just a few days before the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's death and the King's accession on September 8. Mr Sunak's stay at Balmoral Castle, which follows an annual September tradition for sitting prime ministers, is one of his last engagements before Parliament returns on Monday following the summer recess.
Charles followed his late mother's custom by inviting the Prime Minister to join him at his Aberdeenshire retreat, where the royal family spend time each summer. Former prime minister David Cameron once said there was not much "chillaxing" - chilling out and relaxing - at the castle, with the royals spending much of their time on outdoor pursuits.
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Years of memories have been forged at Balmoral, including of family barbecues, where Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, did the cooking and Queen Elizabeth II did the washing-up. The late Queen's meeting with then leader Liz Truss was held in the green drawing room at Balmoral days before her death in September last year, with the then monarch's final ever public picture taken during the visit.
King Charles and Camilla attended the Highland Games yesterday (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Yesterday, King Charles and Camilla were seen at the Highland Games for the first time since the late monarch's death. They were joined by Princess Anne and looked delighted on Saturday as they spectated on the traditional sports and festivities at the annual event, which is held near Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire. The King was seen in a custom royal tartan, while the Queen Consort also wore a dress that appeared inspired by the pattern. Anne's husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence was also in attendance.
Competitions spectated on by the royals included caber tossing and the tug of war, accompanied by cultural displays such as Highland dances and pipe bands. The King Charles III tartan, named after the monarch, is green, blue and red and was designed by the Scottish Tartans Authority earlier this year to mark the coronation. The reigning monarch is traditionally named as chief of the gathering, though Charles has not yet been confirmed in this role.
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