King Charles drives Queen Camilla to Sunday church service near Balmoral
King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a Sunday service at Crathie Kirk, the Church of Scotland parish near their Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire. The royal couple were seen arriving in a car, with the King at the wheel and the Queen waving to onlookers as they reached the small kirk, which has been the family's regular place of worship during summer stays at Balmoral. The late Queen Elizabeth II was also known to attend services here.
The church outing comes shortly after King Charles delivered a poignant address marking VJ Day on 15 August, commemorating the end of World War II.
In a powerful audio message recorded in the Morning Room at Clarence House earlier this month, Charles reflected on the sacrifices of the wartime generation and the enduring lessons for the present day.
'Those heroes of VJ Day gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected,' he said.
'Countries and communities that had never before fought together learned to coordinate their efforts across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides.
"Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link. That remains a vital lesson for our times.'
On the anniversary itself, the King donned his military uniform for a Service of Remembrance at The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, marking 80 years since VJ Day.
He was seen speaking with Alfred Conway, who served alongside Prince Philip during the war.
Queen Camilla joined her husband and was also observed conversing with war veterans, visibly moved at moments during the service and subtly wiping a tear from her eye.
The event drew further attention as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended, accompanied by his wife, Victoria.
The service offered a solemn opportunity to honour those who fought and sacrificed during World War II while reflecting on the importance of international unity in both war and peace.
Crathie Kirk remains a significant location for the royal family during their summer stay at Balmoral. Visitors to the estate will often see the couple attending Sunday services, continuing a long-standing tradition of royal worship in the area.
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The small parish church offers a quieter and more intimate setting compared to services held in London or other major cities, providing the royal family with the chance to attend without the usual public fanfare.
The King's recent remarks on VJ Day emphasised the broader significance of collective action and international cooperation, noting that lessons from the wartime generation remain relevant today.
'Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link,' Charles stated, underlining the value of unity and collaboration across nations.
Following the commemorations, the royal couple returned to Balmoral, where they continue their traditional summer residency.
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Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
King Charles drives Queen Camilla to Sunday church service near Balmoral
King Charles and Queen Camilla were seen arriving by car at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral, with the Queen waving to onlookers. King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a Sunday service at Crathie Kirk, the Church of Scotland parish near their Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire. The royal couple were seen arriving in a car, with the King at the wheel and the Queen waving to onlookers as they reached the small kirk, which has been the family's regular place of worship during summer stays at Balmoral. The late Queen Elizabeth II was also known to attend services here. The church outing comes shortly after King Charles delivered a poignant address marking VJ Day on 15 August, commemorating the end of World War II. In a powerful audio message recorded in the Morning Room at Clarence House earlier this month, Charles reflected on the sacrifices of the wartime generation and the enduring lessons for the present day. 'Those heroes of VJ Day gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected,' he said. 'Countries and communities that had never before fought together learned to coordinate their efforts across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides. "Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link. That remains a vital lesson for our times.' On the anniversary itself, the King donned his military uniform for a Service of Remembrance at The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, marking 80 years since VJ Day. He was seen speaking with Alfred Conway, who served alongside Prince Philip during the war. Queen Camilla joined her husband and was also observed conversing with war veterans, visibly moved at moments during the service and subtly wiping a tear from her eye. The event drew further attention as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended, accompanied by his wife, Victoria. The service offered a solemn opportunity to honour those who fought and sacrificed during World War II while reflecting on the importance of international unity in both war and peace. Crathie Kirk remains a significant location for the royal family during their summer stay at Balmoral. Visitors to the estate will often see the couple attending Sunday services, continuing a long-standing tradition of royal worship in the area. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The small parish church offers a quieter and more intimate setting compared to services held in London or other major cities, providing the royal family with the chance to attend without the usual public fanfare. The King's recent remarks on VJ Day emphasised the broader significance of collective action and international cooperation, noting that lessons from the wartime generation remain relevant today. 'Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link,' Charles stated, underlining the value of unity and collaboration across nations. Following the commemorations, the royal couple returned to Balmoral, where they continue their traditional summer residency.
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3 hours ago
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They even had to flee Spain themselves under threat of Stalinist arrest and execution. Nothing dispels political illusions quicker than being pursued by fanatical murderers. These experiences, and the endless darkness of Stalin's famines, gulags and purges, convinced my father that Soviet Russia was the very opposite of true socialism. He believed fervently that if democratic socialism was to flourish in the west, then the 'myth' that Russia was a socialist state had to be debunked. But there were profound challenges that had to be overcome before Animal Farm could be published. There was a deep-rooted institutional reluctance to allow any criticism of Soviet Russia while it was a British ally leading the destruction of Nazi Germany. This attitude was compounded by relentless Soviet government lobbying and the comprehensive infiltration of British institutions by Soviet agents. 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6 hours ago
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Culture appropriation didn't used to bother me
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Before I was born, they were forced to flee in 1948 and we became refugees. Despite this, I had a happy childhood with my parents and older sister. Throughout it all, hummus was a staple. In fact, we'd have it as a family every Friday as part of a breakfast ritual. Mum would make it from scratch and we'd sit around the table sharing it. When I turned 18 and started driving, I'd bring home plates of it from different places we called 'hummuseries'. With loud music and windows down, it felt comforting to have a warm hummus plate on the passenger seat. My mother would critique them all, comparing it to hers. And I was inclined to agree – hers was the best of all. It wasn't until I moved to the UK in 2013 to pursue a Master's Degree in Renewable Energy that I began to see hummus through a different lens. In supermarkets, I was stunned: all different types of hummus 'fusions' – many without chickpeas at all. The thing is, the word hummus literally means chickpea in Arabic. If there's no chickpea, it's not hummus. It's just a dip. Sure, culinary innovation is great. But sometimes what looks like fusion is actually confusion — or worse, erasure. This is something I learnt almost by accident. During Halloween in 2014 — a celebration I've never really been a fan of — a friend of mine told me she'd been called out for wearing a Native American costume. Apparently, it was considered cultural appropriation. I was genuinely confused. 'Wait,' I said, 'isn't cultural appropriation a good thing? Like, you're celebrating and appreciating another culture?' She shook her head and explained: 'Not exactly. Cultural appropriation is when members of one culture — usually a dominant one — adopt elements of another culture, often without permission or any understanding of its significance or history. There's usually a power imbalance and it often leads to misrepresentation.' And that's when it all hit me. 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I have even made huge pots of it and brought it to pro-Palestine marches with me. Whenever I offer my hummus to people, they often ask me: 'What's your secret?' 'Palestinian love,' I reply with a smile. Soon enough, people started calling me the 'Hummus Guy'. So I've embraced it – and my mission to spread authentic hummus across the world. Hummus shows up at every Levantine breakfast table. It tells stories across generations. When it's commercialised without context or origin, something sacred is lost. It feels that hummus is colonised, butchered, brutalised – even the pronunciation of the word itself feels foreign. These 'hummus fusions' aren't inherently evil — they're just mislabelled and misguiding. If it's a beetroot dip, call it a beetroot dip. When heritage is repackaged and resold – especially while communities tied to it are struggling – it becomes an insult. It's not just hummus; it's history, belonging, and pride. More Trending If I can protect this one small piece of culture, I will. At the end of the day, I would like supermarkets to be true to actual ingredients and local recipes of hummus. Stop the cultural appropriation. I can make sure people know where it comes from. And that matters. It matters to me. View More » So yes, I'm on a mission. I'm here to free the hummus. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Self-care and wellness are worth trillions – but they are becoming toxic MORE: People say it's stealing, but I'll never stop using my holiday breakfast hack MORE: My wife told me to pull my car over – then gave birth Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
