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The Queen looked jubilant as she joined huge crowds to take in the annual Highland Games Gathering in the small Aberdeenshire village of Braemar today.
She is patron of the historic event, which takes place a short distance from the royals’ summer residence Balmoral, and she is known to regularly visit.
Receiving a gift of flowers from girls wearing traditional tartan, the Queen, 93, was in high spirits beside her son Prince Charles – known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland – and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall.
Standing next to the Prince were Autumn Phillips, who is rarely seen with the Queen, and her husband Peter Phillips, who is the son of Princess Anne.
The Queen had been hosting Boris Johnson at Balmoral on Friday night but the Prime Minister is not expected to attend the games, having cut short the anticipated weekend-long visit to return to Downing Street after a turbulent week in British politics.
Organisers of the prestigious event said they had expected a hectic day, with just a few tickets left to watch the array of traditional competitions.
Competitors took part in both running and sack races, tossing the caber, hammer throw, tug of war and highland dancing.
Her Majesty the Queen (centre), accompanied by her son Prince Charles and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, at the annual Gathering for the Braemar Highland Games, which takes place nine miles away from her Scottish residence Balmoral Castle
Smiles all round: The Queen couldn’t contain herself as her jestful son Prince Charles appeared to crack a joke and a smile in the Royal box as they pair watched the Highland Games in cosy blankets
The Queen, who is a patron of the Highland games event, was presented with flowers at the royal box in front of 15,000 spectators. To the right of Prince Charles are Autumn Phillips and Peter Phillips, who is the son of Princess Anne
Also joining the Queen in the Royal box was Autumn Phillips (second from right), who is rarely seen with the Queen, and her husband Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne. Autumn can be seen sharing a laugh with Prince Charles, as the Queen keeps a sharp-eyed focus on the games
Her Majesty’s great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria was the first to attend the gathering in 1848, and since then the reigning monarch and other members of the Royal Family have regularly visited it
Dame Judie Dench has been spotted watching the heavy weight events in a crowd of spectators after travelling up to Aberdeen to attend the Braemar Gathering. Earlier on she went to Balmoral to meet the Queen
A competitor takes part in the hammer-throw event at the annual Highland Games of the small Aberdeenshire village of Braemar. The competition, which has been run in some form for over 900 years, takes place throughout today
A piped band of youngsters march and play during the opening of the games earlier today. Queen Elizabeth II, who is a patron of the tournament, is expected to make an appearance in the royal box for the afternoon
Among the competitions is the caber toss, where contestants attempt to flip a huge wooden log 180 degrees so that it falls forward, hence the term tossing the caber
The men compete in a hard-fought tug-o-war at the event held in the The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park
The Queen smiles at spectators as she leaves in a car accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall after the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, central Scotland, today
With her knees covered by a blanket the Queen smiles as the Duchess of Cornwall makes a remark about the competition
In the royal box the Queen was accompanied by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles, who each sat either side of the monarch
The royal family laughed and smiled as they prepared to leave the Highland Games this afternoon. The Duchess of Cornwall applauded the competitors as a silver cup was presented
Autumn Phillips (right) attended the royal engagement with her husband Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son. Left, Prince Charles holds a guide to the games and his cane as he stands next to the Queen
Heave! Contestants in the tug-o-war competition put on their game faces as they pull hard against the other side
Also spotted amongst the revellers was Dame Judi Dench, 84, who had been spotted arriving at Aberdeen Airport yesterday to join the Royal family for the annual gathering.
Pipe bands and Highland dancers also perform at the gathering, which is organised by the Braemar Royal Highland Society.
The Braemar Gathering, which is always held on the first Saturday in September, has been run in one form or another since the days of King Malcolm Canmore, nine hundred years ago, and in its present form since 1832.
Queen Victoria first attended the gathering in 1848 and since then the reigning monarch and other members of the Royal Family have regularly visited it.
She had travelled to Balmoral earlier today, where Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds have been staying as per a tradition for Prime Minister during summer. However it is not expected that Dame Judi will get to spend much time with the pair, who have said they will not be attending the Games.
A shot putter appears to over-exert himself in the heavy weight competition as Dame Judi Dench looks on
Young girls dressed to the nines in traditional Scottish tartan outfits look on as a dancer performs their routine on a raised platform as hundreds watch on the background
Young talent appeared to dominate the dancing competitions as a young boy and girls elegantly leap around two naked swords that have been placed in a cross on a raised stage
A young competitor hurls a weight while competing in the Braemar Highland Games at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park earlier today
During the Tossing the Caber event these competitors heave a log up from the ground before launching it across the field
Dame Judi Dench cut a casual figure yesterday as she arrived at Aberdeen Airport to join the Royal Family at Balmoral and later today for the annual Braemar gathering
Dame Judi Dench (left) is believed to have joined the Queen (right) at Balmoral and will attend the Braemar Gathering Highland Games. Boris Johnson and girlfriend Carrie Symonds have also been staying at Balmoral but are not expected to attend
Boris Johnson and girlfriend Carrie Symonds were spotted have an audience with the Queen yesterday after flying up to Balmoral, but will not be in attendance for the Braemar Gathering
Children take part in the sack race during the 2019 Braemar Highland Games at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park
A piped band plays during the 2019 Braemar Highland Games at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park
President David Geddes said: ‘We’re expecting a large crowd – we have less than 100 seats left, and there are 7,000.
‘We’ve also sold a large number of ground tickets for entry to the park which is unusual, because we don’t normally sell them till the day. We’re expecting a good crowd.’
This morning police urged revellers to leave plenty of travel time as heavy traffic and delays were expected.
Inspector Matt Smith said: ‘Police Scotland has been working closely with the event organisers and our other partners for months to ensure the event passes successfully and safely. There will be an increased police presence in the area to ensure the safety of those attending the event.
‘There will be no on-street parking throughout the weekend and motorists should instead use the designated car parks for the event. These will be signposted and there will also be stewards available to direct drivers.
‘Please be aware that there may be last minute road closures – your patience is appreciated.’
Girls leaps in to the air while wearing thick woollen socks and a tartan skirt during their highland dancing competition routine. On their feet they wear specialised shoes known as ghillies
Competitors in a running competition wore running shoes over long socks and shorts under their traditional kilts as they raced to beat each other
A man with a moustache sticks out his tongue (right) to intimidate the opposing side during a strength endurance game of tug-o-war
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