Prince Charles to attend Braemar Highland Gathering as event returns from pandemic absence

The Duke of Rothesay is to attend the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering as the traditional event returns for the first time in three years.

Prince Charles will take in the action at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on Saturday in place of the Queen – who has been advised to rest due to “mobility issues”.

In addition to traditional sporting contests such as the tossing of the caber and hammer throwing, the event will also mark the official unveiling of the permanent Platinum Jubilee arch – installed to celebrate the Monarch’s 70th anniversary on the throne earlier this year.

The gathering was called off last year due to concerns over Covid-19, but is now set to return after the pandemic-induced absence.

Fans unable to attend will be able to take in the event via a special live stream for the first time.

The event attracts crowds from the across the globe who watch competitors take part in a series of traditional games.

In another change with convention, on Tuesday the Queen will appoint the new prime minister at her Scottish retreat of Balmoral for the first time in her reign.

The 96-year-old monarch traditionally holds audiences with outgoing and incoming premiers at Buckingham Palace.

But Boris Johnson, who will tender his resignation, and the new Conservative Party leader who will be asked to form a government, either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, will make the 1,000-mile round trip to Balmoral Castle for the key audiences instead.