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Sunday, September 6, 2026

Gigantum.net
Culture

King Charles and Queen Camilla joined by surprise special guests at Balmoral

King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham for a Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk on 6 September. See photos.

· 503 words

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk in Balmoral, Scotland, accompanied by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife.

The royal family's tradition of attending church at Crathie Kirk during their annual summer holidays in Aberdeenshire includes other members such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

King Charles officially appointed Andy Burnham as the UK's new Prime Minister on 20 July following Keir Starmer's resignation announcement, with Burnham forming a new Administration.

King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped out for a Sunday service in Balmoral on 6 September, where they were joined by two special guests.

The royal couple, who were at the annual Braemar Gathering on Saturday , were seen arriving by car at Crathie Kirk, the small parish church near where the royal family holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Charles looked smart in a formal jacket and striped tie while his wife Camilla dressed up for the Sunday occasion in a colourful ensemble which paid tribute to Scotland with a tartan collar.

The Queen was all smiles as she sat alongside her husband in a vibrant blue jacket, which she complemented with a statement red hat adorned with a large feather for the most autumnal-toned look.

While the King and Queen previously attended church with other members of the royal family this summer, they were this time accompanied by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife, Marie-France Van-Heel, who were pictured in the back of a black car.

Sunday service at Crathie Kirk has become a regular tradition for the royal family during their annual summer holidays in Aberdeenshire. The Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke of Edinburgh and his daughter Lady Louise Windsor all surfaced from their break to attend church with the King and Queen on 23 August.

Andy Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, joined the royals last week for a special event in London.

The group, which included Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, the President and First Lady of France, visited the British Museum on 2 September to view the Bayeux Tapestry, which has been temporarily loaned to Britain. The tapestry depicts the Battle of Hastings and hasn't been in Britain since the 11th century. It will be open to the public to view from 10 September.

For the outing, Camilla, Brigitte, and Andy's wife, Marie-France, all looked lovely in white dresses.

King Charles' first meeting with Andy Burnham

Following Keir Starmer's resignation announcement on 22 June, King Charles officially appointed Andy Burnham as the UK's new Prime Minister on 20 July.

"His Majesty received in audience the Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new Administration," a statement from Buckingham Palace read.

"The Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King's offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. Ms Marie-France van Heel was also received by His Majesty."

Gathered from external sources. Rights to this text belong to whoever originally published it.