The Travelsleuth's Diary: September
THE ROYAL MONTH: September in Scotland
The Queen is resident this month in Scotland at Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family's private Scottish home. During the month she will be joined by various members of her family who traditionally spend time at Balmoral during August and September. Prince Philip and Prince Charles wear Highland dress when at Balmoral and are most likely to be seen sporting the Balmoral tartan, a plaid exclusive to the Royal Family and Balmoral Estate residents. Although members of the Royal Family are active at this time, (with engagements ranging from harvest festivals to receptions for medical charities), this is a quiet month.
The Queen is now relaxing after her gruelling three month Golden Jubilee tour of the Kingdom and preparing for her forthcoming visit to Canada which takes place in October.
The salmon and trout angling season closes on September 30.
Prince Harry celebrates his 18th birthday on 15 September.
Scotland is host to some 70 Highland Gatherings & Games every summer. The granddaddy and most prestigious of them all takes place each September near Balmoral at Braemar. This international gathering has a long history of royal connections dating back to its first beginnings during the reign of King Malcolm Canmore. He camped here with his army prior to engaging and defeating McBeth of later Shakespearean fame at a battle near Lumphanon in 1057. Malcolm III ruled Scotland until 1093 and is reputed to have called together the Scottish Clans to the Braes O' Mar that he might 'by keen and fair contest' select his hardiest soldiers and fleetest messengers. His Queen, the pious Margaret, was unusually well educated for a lady of her times and is thought to have been in part responsible for this contest which she had based upon her readings about the classical Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.
The Braemar Gathering
DATE: The first Saturday in September
VENUE: The Princess Royal and Duke of York Memorial Park, Braemar, Ballater AB35 5YA, Scotland
DESCRIPTION:
The grandest of the Highland gatherings held in
Scotland each summer. The Queen is Patron of the Gathering, Vice-Patrons are the Duke of Fife, Capt. AAC Farquharson of Invercauld, MC, and Capt. Mark Nicolson, and the event has traditionally attracted members of the Royal Family from nearby Balmoral since Queent Victoria's patronage. Highlights include traditional Highland dancing, piping, tossing the caber, putting the stone and throwing the hammer.
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