The Queen and Prince Philip are joined by Charles and Anne for the Highland Games

The Queen and Prince Philip are joined by Charles and Anne for the Highland Games

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were joined by their son and daughter for the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering in Aberdeenshire on Saturday.

The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal accompanied their parents to the gathering which takes place on the first Saturday of September each year.

At the event, which took place at Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, The Queen met a Highland dancer before settling down to enjoy traditional performances.

The Braemar Games, of which the Queen is Patron, take place each year at Fife Memorial Park, a short distance from the Balmoral estate.

Attended by members of the Royal Family, the event has a long-standing tradition of attendance dating back to 1848, when Queen Victoria attended.

Prince Charles and Princess Anne at the Highland Games

Over 100 men retraced the steps of their ancestors as they travel from Donside to Royal Deeside marking the bicentenary of the Braemar Royal Highland Society which was formed in 1815.

The group of Lonach Highlanders and the Lonach Pipe Band marched 14 miles to Braemar Castle and camped overnight before attending on Saturday.

The games are the most well-known Highland Games in Scotland and showcase some of the finest athletes, pipe bands and Highland dancers.

Historians believe that the Braemar Gathering in Scotland began during the 11th century when King Malcolm Canmore visited Braemar. The Programme of Events was vastly different of course than the present day. The activities in the 11th century likely included games of strength, endurance and bravery as well as hunting and various skills showcasing the skills perhaps used in battle.

Present day’s events do not showcase the rather barbarous and perilous games of the past.

The modern Braemar Games include activities such as Highland Dancing, hammer throwing, races, leap contests, children’s games and the infamous Scottish event of “Tossing the Caber.” The caber is a straight, 5-metre-long log that tossed by a thrower. The object of the game is not the length of the throw but rather to have the caber fall straight away from the thrower after landing.

Prizes for the various activities range from £8 to £400.