The Queen attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering this weekend with her children, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal. The Gathering, which has been held in its current form since 1832, took place at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. The Queen was photographed sitting between her two children looking very happy as she watched the Gathering. The Prince of Wales got into the spirit of the event by wearing a traditional kilt. Upon her arrival at the Braemar Gathering, the Queen was presented with a bouquet of flowers. This year marks a special year for the event due to the Queen conducting the grand opening of the World Highland Games Centre. The new venue, The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion, celebrates the Braemar Gathering. It is named after the Prince of Wales’s Scottish title and provides a place for the display of memorabilia, trophies and important archives related to the historic event. The Prince of Wales spoke to Countryfile Magazine about the centre, saying: “The Highland Games season holds a special place in the heart of many Scots, including my many members of my own family. “Braemar’s new Highland Games centre is a long overdue celebration of a tradition that has taken place for hundreds of years.” Members of the royal family often attend the Braemar Gathering, and the Queen has attended the event every year since the beginning of her Reign. The Queen is also a patron of the Braemar Gathering. The Highland Games traditionally includes events such as the caber toss and tug-o-war, as well as Highland dance competitions, track and field events, and bagpiping. The Queen has spent her Summer at Balmoral which is only a short distance from Braemar.<doc-sep>The Queen has officially unveiled a new Highland Games pavilion at the annual Braemar Gathering. She joined 15,000 visitors at the event, which is held each year a short distance from the royals' summer retreat on the Balmoral estate. The Aberdeenshire town has hosted the event for 203 years and this year marked the 170th anniversary of Royal Family links. The Queen, wearing a striking jade-green dress suit, was joined by the Duke of Rothesay as well as the Princess Royal and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. The Queen and Princess Anne were both presented with floral posies which they carried throughout their hour-long visit. Before leaving, the Queen and the Duke of Rothesay officially unveiled the newly-built Highland Games Pavilion, which will open to the public next year and will showcase the history of the Highland Games, not just in Braemar but across the world.<doc-sep>It was a royal family outing for Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Princess Anne on Saturday, as the Monarch and her adult children attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering It was a royal family outing for Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Princess Anne on Saturday, as the Monarch and her adult children attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering and opened a project close to her son’s heart. The Queen, 92, accompanied by Charles, 69, and Anne, 68, headed to a special exhibition celebrating something they hold dear: The heritage and traditional games of the Scottish Highlands. Get push notifications with news, features and more. In the new cultural centre — named The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion, after Charles’ Scottish title — they viewed paraphernalia like medals and trophies from previous highlands games. All looked happy while they sat together and watched the games, the Queen mother in a turquoise dress with matching jacket and hat. Charles wore a traditional kilt, colorful shirt and tie, and grey blazer and vest. And Anne stayed classic in a light blue dress, dark jacket, and grey hat. Queen Elizabeth II was also gifted a bouquet of flowers, which she received with a smile. queen-elizabeth0c Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II | Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock prince-charles Prince Charles | Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock queen-elizabeth-b Queen Elizabeth II is presented with flowers as she attends the Annual Braemar Highland Gathering | Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images It’s hoped the pavilion will represent a valuable resource for organizers of Highland Games across the world, tell the story of Highland Games and Gatherings while providing a major tourist attraction in the north-east of Scotland. The pavilion is expected to open to the public early next year. Charles, Duke of Rothesay, has driven the project through his newly-established charity The Prince’s Foundation, which was formed as a result of the merger of four of the Prince’s existing charities on April 1.<doc-sep>
Queen Elizabeth is having a very busy weekend as she attends the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, along with her children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Taking place at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering has roots that go back 900 years. It's been held in its modern iteration since 1832. 2018 marks a special year for the event, as Queen Elizabeth will conduct the grand opening of the World Highland Games Centre. The new venue will be a celebration of the Braemar Gathering, and will provide a place for the display of memorabilia, trophies, and important archives related to the historic event. It will also be named after Prince Charles' Scottish title, where he is known as the Duke of Rothesay. Photographed sitting between two of her children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth looked to be in extremely good spirits at the event. Prince Charles even donned a traditional kilt: Andrew Milligan - PA Images Getty Images She was also presented with a bouquet of flowers upon her arrival, and appeared elated with the welcome she received: Andrew Milligan - PA Images Getty Images Members of the royal family regularly attend the Braemar Gathering. Per the BBC, the Queen "first attended the event as a seven-year-old child in 1933," making it more than a little impressive that she is still attending 85 years later. Scottish Highland Games traditionally include events such as the tug-o-war and the caber toss, alongside Highland dance competitions, bagpiping, and track and field events. Throughout the summer, the Queen has been on vacation in Balmoral, only a short distance from Braemar.