King Charles III has made a poignant return to Balmoral Castle, where he spent time thanking the soldiers who guarded the late Queen in her final days. The Scottish retreat was closed to the public on Sunday so the King could personally express his gratitude to the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
A courtier said: 'The King wanted to say thank you in person. He is very grateful for the effort everyone put in before and after Her Majesty's death.' Charles was driven to Balmoral in his electric Audi after attending divine service at nearby Crathie Kirk.
In a break from tradition, Balmoral's grounds have been opened to the public for the rest of the year to allow tributes to Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen normally inspected a guard of honour outside the castle gates, but this year the ceremony was held privately to maximise her comfort.
Earlier, the King travelled to Aberdeen to meet refugee families from Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan. Dressed in a red kilt and tweed blazer, he spoke with Inna Skvortsova, a Ukrainian who arrived in April and now works for the city council. She said: 'Six months ago I didn't expect that I would be here, or with the King... I'm so grateful that the United Kingdom helped me.'
The monarch also met Burhan Vesal, a former interpreter for the British Army in Afghanistan, along with his wife Narcis and son Sapehr. Mr Vesal said: 'It means a lot as a new immigrant. He spoke to us with openness and with laughter and joy.'
