King Charles is currently enjoying a private vacation in the Scottish Highlands at the Castle of Mey. During this time, he has reached a significant milestone, surpassing his uncle, King Edward VIII, as the longest-reigning British monarch. Edward’s reign lasted for less than a year, as he abdicated from the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. The government at the time was facing the possibility of resignation due to the constitutional conflict caused by his marriage plans. This led to Charles ascending the throne, as he became the next in line after his grandfather, King George VI, since Edward had no heirs.
Charles is no longer the shortest-reigning British monarch, as he has surpassed the reigns of some English monarchs, like Lady Jane Grey, who ruled for only nine days, and Sweyn Forkbeard, who was King of Denmark and ruled for 40 days before his death. During his vacation in the Scottish Highlands, Charles has been seen in good spirits, even braving the August showers without any signs of being bothered.
Last Wednesday, the 74-year-old monarch was photographed in John O’Groats, Caithness, where he attended the opening ceremony of the 8 Doors Distillery. For this occasion, he opted for a traditional Scottish kilt as part of his attire. After officially opening the distillery, he was given a tour and had the opportunity to fill an American Oak, Pedro Ximénez Hogshead cask. He also sampled the new make spirit during his visit. Additionally, the King met with local food producers and explored various market stalls in the area.
Kerry Campbell, one of the co-founders of 8 Doors Distillery, expressed their honor in welcoming The King to their distillery. They enjoyed sharing their distillery’s unique story with him and gave him the chance to fill a cask in their warehouse. During the visit, The King had the opportunity to meet various members of their team, including those involved in distillation, retail, and the distillery lounge. The team members all share a passion for the whisky industry and the local area.
Over the weekend, Charles arrived in the Scottish Highlands, where he usually stays for a week before moving to his Birkhall residence on the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire. It is expected that during his stay, he will be joined by Queen Camilla and they will host Prince William, Princess Kate, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
