King Charles plants new rose at Castle of Mey during Scottish summer retreat

King Charles III arrived at the Castle and Gardens of Mey in Caithness, Scotland, to begin his annual summer retreat in early August, a tradition that aligns with the late Queen Mother’s birthday. During the visit he planted the King’s Rose, a new cultivar created in partnership with David Austin Roses and The King’s Foundation, in the estate’s Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden. The rose has also been placed at the foundation’s sister sites, Dumfries House in Ayrshire and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire.

The monarch was photographed wearing a traditional kilt, attended the Mey Highland Games, and hosted a reception for the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, recalling his survival of a 1988 avalanche. The Castle of Mey, purchased by the Queen Mother in 1952 and now managed by The King’s Foundation, will open to the public for tours from 12 August. The visit continues the royal family’s long‑standing connection to the historic north‑Scottish retreat.