Glenbuchat Heritage

147 King Charles visits the Lonach Games 2023

King Charles at the Lonach Gathering Aug 2023

The presence of Royalty in Strathdon has not been unusual especially in the past. However, I am not awre that any of the Royal Family have attended the Lonach Highland Games.

Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales (Later Edward Vll) were occasional visitors to Castle Newe home of the Forbes family. The last royal person to visit Castle Newe was Queen Mary in 1920. Since then, however Queen Elizabeth made visits to Glenbuchat Lodge, Prince Charles made a visit to Easterbucket farm and the Quen Elixabeth the Queen Mother visited the Old Kirk of Glenbuchat.

On Saturday 27th August 2023 King Charles made a brief but very welcome to the Lonach Highland Games. He took the salute at the march past of the Highlanders and the Pipe bands. He then crossed the games field and spoke to contestants and officials. He was provided with a starting pistol and despite some misfired shots which caused some amusement, he started the first race, the 90-yard sprint.

Again, he crossed back across the field and speaking to the members of the crowd who were cheering him as well as more competitors and officials.

In front of the covered stand, he stopped to speak to Jonny Hardie, who was dressed in his Lonach uniform. Johnny is a descendent of Sir Charles Forbes who started the Highland games The Lonach Highland and Friendly Society was founded in 1823 by Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet of Newe and Edinglassie (1773-1849). Johny is an accomplished musician and fiddler and plays in a group called ‘The Old Blind Dogs’. Jonny as apparently previously played for the King and apparently one of his songs is a favourite of the King.

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