Another day, another hug for King Charles III. After his rather joyful cuddle with the Black Ferns rugby team, His Majesty was hugged by another fan on a big day for Scotland.
King Charles was marking the 25th anniversary of Scottish Parliament and as well as a heartfelt speech, packed with personal references, he also got a cuddle from a wellwisher.
The King, with Queen Camilla, was at Holyrood for the special anniversary and His Majesty took the occasion to highlight the connection the country has to his family.
As he took the time to give a speech, he shared how Scotland has always had a “uniquely special place in the hearts” of His Majesty and his family. Particularly, he focused on his family’s highland estate, Balmoral Castle. Every year, the Royal Family takes their summer holiday up in the highlands. It is also where The King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days.
“My late mother especially treasured the time spent at Balmoral, and it was there, in the most beloved of places, where she chose to spend her final days,” said His Majesty.
While speaking with dignitaries, well wishers shared their personal reasons for traveling for the Parliament anniversary. 59-year-old Yvonne Macmillan came from East Renfrewshire to hear His Majesty speak.
As she gave him a hug, she shared she travelled to Holyrood because of The King “being unwell.” It was in February that Buckingham Palace announced The King would undergo treatment for an undisclosed cancer. Yvonne said “I asked him if he was feeling better and if I could give him a hug. I actually said to him: ‘Can I hug you?’ As I hugged him I said: ‘God bless you’, so it was like God giving him a hug.”
Yvonne was in attendance with her husband, Russell, who is registered blind and attended as a “local hero.” Community champions were nominated by each of Holyrood’s MSPs in recognition for their work in the local area.
Russell was nominated after setting up a charity following a kidney and pancreas transplant. He said His Majesty was “grateful” him and his wife took time to ask how he was doing.
