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Royal News

King Charles celebrates important day for Scotland

King Charles has celebrated Burns Night with a brand new portrait.

The King, wearing a brand new tartan and surrounded by books on Scottish history, sent well wishes to all those marking what is, in effect, an unofficial national day for many in Scotland.

The royal Burns portrait was taken in the library at Balmoral Castle. Charles III is wearing a tartan designed just for him and bearing his name – it takes its inspiration from the Balmoral tartan and its colours from 18th century traditional Scottish clothing.

King Charles III celebrates Burns Night at Balmoral
(Millie Pilkington/ Royal Family)

Burns Night is celebrated on January 25th every year and marks the birthday of Rabbie Burns, the Scottish poet whose work brought his country’s culture to a global audience and who was voted the greatest Scot of all time in a national poll in 2009.

Traditionally, a supper of haggis, tatties and neeps (potatoes and swede) is eaten on Burns night. The meal is sometimes piped or sung to the table and Rabbie Burns’ ‘Address to the Haggis’ is read before anyone can tuck in. The celebration usually ends with a rendition of one of the poet’s most famous works ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

The library at Balmoral, where King Charles chose to be photographed, is an important room for royal events. The King uses it as his study while in residence at Balmoral and holds major meetings there including visiting dignitaries and politicians, among them the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

It’s also a focus of His Majesty’s interest in Scottish history and culture with the walls lined with books on Scotland as well as collections of speeches by Prince Albert who made Balmoral into a home for him and Queen Victoria.

It’s now one of the most famous royal residences in the world. It was here that The King’s reign began. Queen Elizabeth II, died at the castle on September 8th 2022 with the throne passing immediately to Charles III.

The King has spent the past weeks in Scotland where he’s carried out a range of engagements. He will travel to Poland in the coming days where he will join world leaders at events marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.