
Charles tries award-winning whisky during Campbeltown visit
He wore his own King Charles III tartan kilt for the visit to the town which made its fortune producing whisky which was sold around the globe and is now making a resurgence.
More than a thousand people stood behind crash barriers to see the King tour the town.
He first visited the local farmer's market where he watched sheep being sheared, met charity and community organisations in the town hall where the distillery had a stand, and finally visited the harbour area.
Charles is known to like whisky produced using peat, which has a very distinctive flavour, and he asked Iain McAlister, master distiller and manager of Glen Scotia's distillery in Campbeltown: 'Is it a peaty one?' and was told it was not.
He watched as a double measure from the whisky, costing more than £500 a bottle, was poured, and after taking a sip said: 'I'm always so amused by these people who describe these whiskys in the most amazing ways.'
On the distillery's website the whisky is described as having 'hints of vanilla oak interwoven with the subtle notes of sea spray and spicy aromatic fruits'.
Mr McAlister presented a bottle of the whisky to mark the visit and said afterwards: 'It doesn't get much better than this, having the King try our whisky.'
Outside well-wishers had waited in the rain to see the monarch who spent time shaking hands with people and when local Kevin Stone shouted out 'you're looking well', Charles, who is receiving ongoing cancer care, replied 'thank you'.
He stopped to visit a number of retailers including a fishmongers, butchers, fruit and veg store and Fetcha Chocolates run by chocolatier Fiona McArthur, who said last year she supplied vegan sweet treats for the famous Oscars goody bags.
She added: 'The King was asking how we made the chocolates and he was very excited about the Oscars when I told him, and we gifted him a box of chocolates.'
Earlier Charles watched 67-year-old Willie Skilling, livestock agent and sheep shearer, cutting off the fleece from a Scotch Mule sheep.
He wrestled with the animal and used a harness called a bungee that supported his back, telling the King 'this is what you call help the aged' and Charles replied: 'I must remember that'.
The King ended his visit by meeting a series of organisations from HM Coastguard to the RNLI and Sea Cadets by the harbour along with local nursery school children.
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Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
King Charles' favourite royal tour paintings revealed as his private collection is put on display at Buckingham Palace
Scroll down to see an exclusive preview of the paintings THE KING'S ARTISTS King Charles' favourite royal tour paintings revealed as his private collection is put on display at Buckingham Palace Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT is 40 years since King Charles, then Prince of Wales, first took an artist with him on a royal tour. The Sun's celebrated royal photographer Arthur Edwards was on that first trip, when society portrait painter John Ward joined Charles and Diana on their 17-day tour to Italy in 1985. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 King Charles has been taking photographers and artists with him on royal tours for 40 years - he is painted here in the Galapagos Isles Credit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust 15 Charles' visit to the islands in 2009 is one of the royal's most memorable trips Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 15 Sun photographer Arthur Edwards picked out his favourite paintings and photos from royal tours Credit: Lorna Roach William and Harry were only tots and travelled with their parents on the Royal Yacht Britannia. After each foreign tour, Charles chooses his favourite paintings and displays them in private at his homes, Clarence House, Highgrove, Birkhall and Sandringham. But from next Thursday, the public can see them for the first time when summer visitors to Buckingham Palace will be able to view paintings by 43 royal artists from 70 incredible tours in 90 countries around the world. Arthur has been given an exclusive preview of the paintings – and here he shares his memories and favourite photos from royal journeys with the King and his artists. Galapagos Isles, 2009 THE highlight of Charles and Camilla's tour to Chile, Brazil and Ecuador was a visit to the Galapagos Islands, home to the most incredible wildlife. A mix-up over boat times meant artist Richard Foster nearly missed the trip to uninhabited North Seymour Island, but thankfully the coastguard came to his aid. And he managed to paint the Prince and Duchess on this lump of Pacific lava rock home to the rare blue-footed booby bird and iguanas so tame they don't see humans as a threat. My favourite photograph on this tour is of the couple getting up close with the famous giant tortoises. One of the great joys of my life is seeing amazing places. Sadly, this visit was limited to three days in paradise. King Charles waves to royal fans as he leaves Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla for Trooping the Colour 15 Martin Yeoman painted this picture of an arched entrance to the Red Fort at Agra Credit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust 15 Princess Diana posed for a famous picture in front of the Taj Mahal on the royal tour of India Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd India and Nepal, 1993 THIS was the royal tour that Princess Diana hijacked with her historic solo photo at the Taj Mahal. Artist Martin Yeoman, who painted this picture of an arched entrance to the Red Fort at Agra, accidentally strayed outside the official tour. When he tried to rejoin the others, local security did not believe him until eventually a junior official vouched for him. Just before Diana posed for that picture at the Taj Mahal, I was the only photographer to go with her to the fort. She posed up, arms folded, looking absolutely stunning with the most beautiful smile. With a long lens, I was able to get the Taj Mahal in the background. I rate it in the top five best pictures I ever took of Diana. Uganda and Turkey, 2007 15 Mungo McCosh painted this picture of Charles and Camilla crossing the Golden Horn in Istanbul Credit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust 15 The royal couple took a trip to Uganda's capital city Kampala in 2007 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd AFTER a couple of days in Uganda's capital Kampala for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the royals travelled to the city of Jinja, on the banks of Lake Victoria, the source of the River Nile. While I was photographing the royal couple on a boat, Camilla took out her camera and snapped a picture of me. Later on the tour, I admired the work of artist Mungo McCosh, who painted this picture of Charles and Camilla crossing the Golden Horn in Istanbul. I had been trying to photograph the scene for half an hour without much success and I told Mungo: 'The pencil can do something the camera can't.' Today, nearly 20 years later, I still remember being entranced while photographing the mind-blowing whirling dervishes. Egypt, 2006 15 Prince Charles and Camilla were recently married in 2006 when they visited Egypt Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd I HAD been to Egypt five times and was ill on each occasion. At one point, Diana's doctor had to treat me. So the last time, in 2022, I took no chances by carrying my own food and water. Back in 2006, we travelled to a desert oasis at Siwa, where artist Sarah Butterfield captured this scene of a local by the water. I got a wonderful photograph of the recently married couple. Walking uphill, Camilla linked arms with Charles and they were both wearing white hats. One newspaper called them Fred & Gladys – the nicknames they gave each other early in their relationship. Sri Lanka and India, 2013 15 Catherine Goodman captured Mumbai's Gateway Of India in charcoal and gouache Credit: © [artist's name]. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust 15 During a flight to Sri Lanka in 2013 Arthur Edwards presented King Charles with a front page celebrating his 65th birthday Credit: The Sun CHARLES was going to be 65 on the day we flew to Sri Lanka from India. The Sun had created a special front page with the headline OAP – Old Aged Prince – complete with ads for free eye tests and discounts at Specsavers. I wanted to present it to him on the plane and, despite a lot of haggling, his press secretary was reluctant to allow it. Suddenly, lovely Camilla appeared, took me to the front of the flight and said: 'Darling, Arthur's got a present for you.' Charles laughed because his Sun front page was very funny. Then I asked if I could have a picture taken of me giving the Prince the present. He asked, 'What's it for?' and when I told him, 'Tomorrow's paper', he replied, 'OK, but against my better judgment'. I will never forget the relief when I got that photo back to London. It was on this trip that artist Catherine Goodman, who captured Mumbai's Gateway Of India in charcoal and gouache, said to me: 'I'd like to paint your portrait'. I thought she was joking, but after 12 hours of sittings, my picture hung in the National Portrait Gallery. I never found out who suggested it – but I suspect the idea came from the VIP at the front of the plane! New Zealand, 2012 15 Artist Sue Wild painted the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee being marked with an Armistice Day service in Auckland Credit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust 15 Arthur took his favourite picture of King Charles in New Zealand - alongside an albatross Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd PRINCE Charles's tour to New Zealand to mark the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee began with an Armistice Day service in Auckland. Local artist Sue Wild, wearing a home-made pinny to carry her watercolours, brushes and pencils, painted this wonderful picture. Three days later, on the future King's birthday, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key led a rendition of the Beatles song When I'm Sixty-Four at a government reception. Being 64 didn't stop Charles dancing with well-wishers in the streets of Christchurch. I have been to New Zealand half a dozen times with the Prince and in 2005 took my favourite photo of him – with an albatross in Dunedin. The giant bird and its chick were just three feet from Charles, who was there to warn about the slaughter of these majestic creatures in discarded fishing nets. He is so passionate that even as King, he will go to any lengths to highlight the damage being done to the environment. Ireland, 1995 15 King Charles was snapped walking with Irish president Mary Robinson during his 1995 visit Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 15 Artist Derek Hill painted this beautiful landscape on the border between Counties Galway and Mayo Credit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust IT wasn't until the mid-Nineties that Prince Charles went on an official visit to the Republic of Ireland for the first time – though that's understandable given the long years of conflict there. Huge crowds lined O'Connell Street in Dublin, where a couple of IRA demonstrators kicked off, then suddenly they disappeared. Nothing was going to interrupt this tour. Later, Charles walked in the garden of the President's house with Mary Robinson. I photographed her pointing out the light that is never extinguished so that Irish people who emigrate know they will always be welcomed back. Later, the Prince went across to Delphi Lodge on the border between Counties Galway and Mayo, where artist Derek Hill painted this beautiful landscape. It was not until 2011 that Queen Elizabeth made her first visit to Dublin. Since 2015, Charles has gone almost every year to a different part of Ireland to celebrate the goodwill between our two countries. The King's Tour Artists forms part of the public visitor route at Buckingham Palace from July 10.


STV News
17 hours ago
- STV News
King Charles gifted engraved bottle of whisky during Scotland visit
King Charles enjoyed a dram of whisky during his visit to a Scottish town famous for its distilleries. Charles and Camilla are in Scotland for Royal Week, during which the monarch traditionally spends a week based at the Palace of Holyroodhouse each year. Charles sipped a 25-year-old single malt by the Glen Scotia distillery while visiting Campbeltown in the wind and rain. He wore his own King Charles III tartan kilt for the visit to the town which made its fortune producing whisky which was sold around the globe and is now making a resurgence. More than a thousand people stood behind crash barriers to see the King tour the town. He first visited the local farmer's market where he watched sheep being sheared, met charity and community organisations in the town hall where the distillery had a stand, and finally visited the harbour area. Charles is known to like whisky produced using peat, which has a very distinctive flavour. He asked Iain McAlister, master distiller and manager of Glen Scotia's distillery in Campbeltown: 'Is it a peaty one?' and was told it was not. He watched as a double measure from the whisky, costing more than £500 a bottle, was poured, and after taking a sip said: 'I'm always so amused by these people who describe these whiskys in the most amazing ways.' On the distillery's website, the whisky is described as having 'hints of vanilla oak interwoven with the subtle notes of sea spray and spicy aromatic fruits'. Mr McAlister presented a bespoke bottle of the whisky to mark the visit. Featuring a unique engraving which reads 'To celebrate the royal visit of King Charles to Campbeltown 3rd July 2025', the bottle was specially created by Glen Scotia to mark the occasion of the royal visit to Scotland's smallest whisky-producing region. Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia distillery manager, said: 'It's a tremendous honour to welcome His Majesty to Campbeltown. His visit not only recognises the town's historical significance, but also its vibrant whisky-making community. 'We are proud to gift The King a bespoke bottling of our 25-year-old to celebrate this special moment, a whisky that reflects the depth of character and craftsmanship which define Glen Scotia and Campbeltown.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Charles tries award-winning whisky during Campbeltown visit
With wind and rain making the summer visit to Campbeltown feel like autumn, Charles readily sipped an award-winning 25-year-old single malt by the Glen Scotia distillery. He wore his own King Charles III tartan kilt for the visit to the town which made its fortune producing whisky which was sold around the globe and is now making a resurgence. More than a thousand people stood behind crash barriers to see the King tour the town. He first visited the local farmer's market where he watched sheep being sheared, met charity and community organisations in the town hall where the distillery had a stand, and finally visited the harbour area. Charles is known to like whisky produced using peat, which has a very distinctive flavour, and he asked Iain McAlister, master distiller and manager of Glen Scotia's distillery in Campbeltown: 'Is it a peaty one?' and was told it was not. He watched as a double measure from the whisky, costing more than £500 a bottle, was poured, and after taking a sip said: 'I'm always so amused by these people who describe these whiskys in the most amazing ways.' On the distillery's website the whisky is described as having 'hints of vanilla oak interwoven with the subtle notes of sea spray and spicy aromatic fruits'. Mr McAlister presented a bottle of the whisky to mark the visit and said afterwards: 'It doesn't get much better than this, having the King try our whisky.' Outside well-wishers had waited in the rain to see the monarch who spent time shaking hands with people and when local Kevin Stone shouted out 'you're looking well', Charles, who is receiving ongoing cancer care, replied 'thank you'. He stopped to visit a number of retailers including a fishmongers, butchers, fruit and veg store and Fetcha Chocolates run by chocolatier Fiona McArthur, who said last year she supplied vegan sweet treats for the famous Oscars goody bags. She added: 'The King was asking how we made the chocolates and he was very excited about the Oscars when I told him, and we gifted him a box of chocolates.' Earlier Charles watched 67-year-old Willie Skilling, livestock agent and sheep shearer, cutting off the fleece from a Scotch Mule sheep. He wrestled with the animal and used a harness called a bungee that supported his back, telling the King 'this is what you call help the aged' and Charles replied: 'I must remember that'. The King ended his visit by meeting a series of organisations from HM Coastguard to the RNLI and Sea Cadets by the harbour along with local nursery school children.