King Charles III has paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as he attended the Highland Games today – an event that was a firm favourite of the monarch.

The King represented the Royal Family at the event alongside his wife Queen Camilla – the first since the Queen Elizabeth’s death.

The Braemar Gathering – the most famous of the Highland Games – was a particular favourite of the late monarch who rarely missed the spectacle which takes place in September each year near Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire.

The King and Queen were joined by Anne, Princess Royal, and her husband Timothy Laurence. All four Royals sat together and watched on as contestants battled it out in front of spectators.

It comes a year after the late Queen was forced to miss the event – prompting the initial grave concerns for her health, and less than a week before her passing.

King Charles, Queen Camilla and Anne, the Princess Royal, were pictured laughing together as they attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park

Queen Camilla smiled at the crowd as she attended the Braemar Gathering alongside her husband, King Charles III

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Braemar Gathering highland games held a short distance from the royals’ summer retreat at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire

Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla arrive to attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland

Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (left), Britain’s King Charles III (centre), Britain’s Queen Camilla (right) and Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal (third left) attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar

The late Queen Elizabeth II is pictured at the Braemar Highland Games in September 2010 alongside her son, then Prince Charles, Prince of Wales

Prince Charles would often accompany the monarch at the gathering which has existed in some form for 900 years.

He still attended the event last year despite officials saying that the late Queen wound not ‘for her comfort’.

Various events throughout the day include traditional Scottish games, including caber-tossing and tug-of-war.

The Braemar Gathering is the most famous of the Highland Games and is known worldwide. Each year thousands of visitors descend on this small Scottish village on the first Saturday in September to watch one of the more colourful Scottish traditions.

The Gathering has a long history and in its modern form it stretches back nearly 200 years. 

Charles was wearing a kilt in the newly created King Charles III tartan at the Braemar Gathering, while Camilla wore an outfit by Mr Roy.

The Scottish Tartans Authority said: ‘The green, blue and red tartan was designed by The Scottish Tartans Authority earlier this year to mark the occasion of the coronation and in recognition of His Majesty’s strong support in preserving the culture and traditions of highland dress and Scottish tartans.

‘The unique design presented to His Majesty, is based on the Balmoral tartan sett which dates from c.1850 and continues to be worn by the King and members of the royal family today.

‘The new tartan has been officially registered with the Scottish register of tartans which is administered by the National Records of Scotland.

‘The cloth, woven in 100% Scottish wool by Lochcarron of Scotland in Selkirk, includes a central triple stripe motif (one broad and two narrow) which is a feature of royal tartans previously worn by His Majesty including the Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Rothesay Hunting and Lord of the Isles Hunting tartans.

‘The colours have been matched to the natural dyes of 18th century tartan specimens in the collection of the Scottish Tartans Authority.’

King Charles III exists a car as he arrives to attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, central Scotland

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were also in attendance for the Braemar Gathering highland games

Queen Camilla arrives at the Braemar Gathering highland games held a short distance from the royals’ summer retreat at the Balmoral estate

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrive at the Braemar Gathering highland games held a short distance from the royals’ summer retreat at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire

A man competes, during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar

Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (L), Britain’s King Charles III (C), Britain’s Queen Camilla (R) and Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal (3L) attend the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar

Hamza Yassin gestures during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar

People play bagpipes during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar

The Royal family originally started attending the games in the in the mid-1800s when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased the castle.

It comes almost a year to the day after the late Queen Elizabeth was forced to miss the event over her ailing health and mobility issues. She would pass away some days later.

Attending in place of his mother last year, the then Price Charles officially opened The Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Archway during the festival before presenting awards to the top-performing competitors as the events across the day.

The Archway was opened last year to commemorate the Queen’s historic 70 years on the throne in recognition of Her Majesty as a patron of the world-famous event.

While she could not attended in person last year, the late Queen was able to watch from the comfort of Balmoral as the events were streamed online.