PA Media King Charles III - who is wearing tweed jacket, matching waistcoat, white shirt and blue tie; kilt, black shocks and black shoes - meets Shetland pony Cpl Cruachan IV (mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland) during an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle. PA Media

King Charles III meets Shetland pony Cpl Cruachan IV, mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

The King has marked the start of his summer residency at Balmoral with a military ceremony involving a Shetland pony.

King Charles inspected regimental mascot Corporal Cruachan IV as the animal stood with handler Corporal Rory Stewart.

A Guard of Honour was held by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) to officially welcome the King to the Aberdeenshire castle, although he attended a church service there on Sunday in a private capacity.

After the ceremony, there was a performance from the pipes and drums – formed by soldiers from across the regiment – in a display of pageantry which was closely linked to this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

PA Media The pipe band of 3 & 4 SCOTS, Royal Regiment of Scotland as King Charles III carries out an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle. PA Media

The pipe band of 3 & 4 SCOTS, Royal Regiment of Scotland marched through the gates of Balmoral

King Charles is the Colonel in Chief of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and wore his new tartan which was designed on the date of his coronation, 6 May 2023.

The monarch greeted tourists and holidaymakers from France, the Netherlands and Germany in temperatures which reached 23C (73F).

Cruachan IV, the mascot since 2012, was wearing a regimental horse rug in Government 1A tartan worn by the Royal Regiment of Scotland and embellished with medals.

PA Media King Charles III meets members of the public after inspecting the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, who are standing behind a metal barrier.PA Media

King Charles greeted locals and tourists as he arrived

PA Media Members of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, before King Charles III carries out an inspectionPA Media

Members of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral

PA Media King Charles III inspects the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral.PA Media

King Charles III inspects the Balaklava Company

PA Media Members of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, stand in line at the gates of BalmoralPA MediaPA Media King Charles III meets members of the public after carrying out an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral. He is smiling and holding his hands in front of him while talking to members of the public who are standing behind a metal barrier.PA Media

The monarch shares a joke with members of the public

PA Media The pipe band of 3 & 4 SCOTS, Royal Regiment of Scotland as King Charles III carries out an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle.PA MediaPA Media King Charles III inspects the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle. Picture date: Monday August 18, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA WirePA Media

King Charles wore a tartan which was designed to mark his Coronation in May 2023

PA Media A smiling King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who is also waving her right hand, as they arrive to attend a Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral. The King is driving a dark grey Audi and the Queen is sitting in the front seat.PA Media

On Sunday King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived to attend a church service at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral