King Charles Attends Mey Highland Games in Scotland With Princess Margaret’s Daughter

2 min read

King Charles has begun his annual summer migration to Scotland, kicking off the season at the Mey Highland Games on Saturday. The King often begins his summer holiday at his private residence at the Castle of Mey for the early part of August and then on to Balmoral Castle, the official royal summer residence, later in the month.

Dressed in his customary kilt, King Charles spent the afternoon at the John O’Groats showground in Caithness, near the northernmost point of mainland Scotland. He was joined by a quietly notable companion: Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret and his first cousin, who was seen departing the event in the same vehicle as the sovereign. It was a discreet but notable appearance for a member of the royal family who tends to keep a low profile.

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Lady Sarah Chatto and King Charles departing the Mey Highland Games.

The Mey Highland Games started in 1970, when the inaugural event was held in the village of Mey to mark the Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. She was the guest of honor that day, and it has become an annual tradition ever since. Charles has served as Chieftain of the games since 2002, having assumed the role from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The gathering typically draws around 2,000 spectators and is held on the first Saturday of August each year.

Last year, Sarah also joined King Charles at the event, and in 2019, she and her son Samuel Chatto were photographed taking in the games.

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Lady Sarah Chatto watches the Mey Highland Games, 2025.

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Lady Sarah and her son at the 2019 Mey Games. Then-Prince Charles is in the foreground, on right.

Among the highlights on Saturday was a tug of war won by a team of firefighters, whom King Charles reportedly congratulated personally after their victory. He spent time with the Wounded Highlanders, a group of injured military veterans who participate in adaptive events as part of the program. The King also watched caber tossing, the Highland discipline in which competitors hurl a heavy tree trunk end over end, and took in performances from Scottish dancing troupes and pipe bands. At some point during the afternoon, he was also seen relaxing with a dram of whisky.

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King Charles enjoying some whisky with Lord John Thurso.

Lady Sarah’s appearance is consistent with a somewhat higher public profile she has maintained in recent months. In April, she attended several events marking the centenary of Queen Elizabeth’s birth alongside King Charles and Prince Edward. In June, Lady Sarah and her family were at the wedding of Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son and another of her first cousins, to Harriet Sperling. She also rode in the opening procession at Royal Ascot and presented a trophy to a winning connection during the racing, a role traditionally filled by members of the royal family. In July, Lady Sarah was spotted in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, though she and her husband, Daniel Chatto, are regulars at the All England Club each summer.

Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.