King and First Minister mark second anniversary of Queen's death at Balmoral service
King Charles is staying at the Balmoral Estate
The King has marked the second anniversary of the Queen’s death with a service near Balmoral.
Charles and Queen Camilla attended Crathie Kirk in Royal Deeside this morning, the church Queen Elizabeth II attended when she was spending time at Balmoral Castle.
The nation’s longest-reigning monarch died at the Aberdeenshire estate on September 8 2022 at the age of 96.
Guest preacher at the divine service the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson described the anniversary as "particularly significant and poignant for the royal family" and said he remembered them in his prayers during his sermon.
"Particularly significant and poignant"
Dr Paterson, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said after the hour-long service it was a privilege to preach to the King, the Queen and rest of the congregation which included Scotland's First Minister John Swinney.
The service will feature on Songs of Praise for the first time, with the special programme set to air on Sunday, including a hymn commissioned by the King called Crathie, in honour of the building.
Charles, 75, has faced a personally challenging year, marked by the difficult double health blow of his cancer diagnosis and that of his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales.
Onlookers said the King waved and was "very gracious" to the small crowd of well-wishers who waited to see him enter the church on the second anniversary of his historic accession to the throne.
Dr Shaw described how the King was "very well known and liked" in the local community around Balmoral and is "very much part of it", just like the late Queen, who was said to never be happier than when she was in the North East.
The private Scottish home was bought for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852 and has been passed down since then, now belonging to the King.
The service was led by Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, minister of the Parish of Braemar and Crathie and domestic chaplain to the King.
Rev MacKenzie ministered the late Queen in her final days and supported the royal family following her death.
Diane Brandish, a tourist visiting Scotland from Christchurch in New Zealand, was among those saw the King and said catching a sight of him was an unexpected "bonus" on her holiday.
King is "very well known and liked"
She added: "We happened to be coming by and I didn't realise that King Charles would be here.
"Most people in New Zealand follow the royal family quite closely and are aware of the anniversary."
Diane and her husband saw the King waving at the crowd as he entered the church, saying "he was very gracious".
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meanwhile hailed the "70 glorious years of her reign".
"Today marks two years since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II," Sir Keir said in a message posted on social media.
"The late Queen's dedication to the UK and Commonwealth taught us that whatever challenges our country faces, the value of service always endures.
"For the 70 glorious years of her reign, she was at the heart of this nation's life. Today we honour her memory."