King Charles III: Monarch meets 99-year-old D-Day veteran

King Charles III (76) met a 99-year-old D-Day veteran at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen on Monday after he was unable to travel to Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemoration. Queen Camilla (77) was also in the Scottish port city and visited the university there.

The king appeared in a good mood as he walked through the historic regimental building. For the appointment, the monarch wore a kilt, a traditional sporran purse, a beige tweed blazer and navy blue knee socks. He completed the look with a green and yellow striped tie and a pair of black leather lace-up ghillie brogues.

During the appointment, Charles met a number of guests – including 99-year-old D-Day veteran Jim Glennie from Turriff, Aberdeenshire. On his 19th birthday he was taken to Stammlager IV B, one of the largest prisoner of war camps in Germany. The King took time to speak with the veteran and bent down to shake the hand of the seated Jim Glennie. The former soldier was visibly touched by this honor. The two men chatted for a while before Charles finished his tour of the recently renovated Gordon Highlanders Museum.

He also met with staff, volunteers and supporters of the project. The King was shown, among other things, the kilt of Captain Alexander Manson of the Gordon Highlanders, which still bears traces of mud from the Battle of the Somme in 1916 – one of the largest battles on the Western Front of the First World War. He also examined the twelve portraits of D-Day veterans that he had commissioned while he was Prince of Wales. Jim Glennie is also pictured on one.

Charles’ wife Camilla also had an appointment in Aberdeen on Monday. She visited the university’s Sir Duncan Rice Library, which was opened in September 2012 by the late Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). Camilla became chancellor of the university in June 2013 and has visited numerous times. This time she met participants in a series of local community programs that the university supports.

The Queen chose a light blue vintage coat with green tartan on the collar, dark leather gloves and knee-high boots for the occasion. She paired the elegant ensemble with a thistle-print scarf, another nod to Scotland – a country that has always been close to her husband Charles’ heart.