King Charles opened 8 Doors Distillery in John O’Groats, Scotland on August 2.Photo:Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
King Charlesis savoring the last weeks of summer one sip at a time.
On Wednesday, the 74-year-old sovereign stepped out in John O’Groats, Wick, Scotland to officially open 8 Doors Distillery. The business is the most northerly mainland whisky distillery in Scotland and is producing the village’s first scotch whisky since 1837.
King Charles opened 8 Doors Distillery in John O’Groats, Scotland on August 2.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
The King then checked out the stillroom and learned more about the sustainable vision for the micro-distillery. Sourcing supplies as locally as possible, the Campbells repurposed all of the stainless-steel vessels used for production from other sites.
In a further push, the waste from the distillation process is also collected and transformed into bio-gas for reuse at an anaerobic digestion plant in the area. Discussion about the practices was likely a lively one, as Charles has long been interested inenvironmental conservation issues.
A distillery visit wouldn’t be complete without a drink, and the King amicably tried a sample. The sovereign then filled a cask, signed a visitor’s book and headed to the local square to meet food producers, community reps and members of the public.
For the last stop of the outing, Charles chatted with a blacksmith at a forge, as beacons glowed in honor of hishistoric coronation. While the King andQueen Camillawere symbolically crowned in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, Scotland also marked the crowning with a second coronation celebration.
On July 5, King Charlesstepped out in Edinburghfor the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles’ Cathedral with Camilla,Prince WilliamandKate Middleton. From formal processions through the streets to the presentation ofcrown jewelsduring a church service, much of the pomp mirrored the pageantry seen at the May crowning on a smaller scale.
Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Scotland coronation celebration on July 5.AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla, 76, will likely be thinking of Queen Elizabeth as they spend time in Scotland this month at and aroundBalmoral Castle. Members of the royal familytypically take private vacationsbetween July and August to relax, recharge and return ready for the fall, and Balmoral is a favorite escape.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla will likely convene with other members of the royal family at Balmoral in the coming weeks, where Queen Elizabeth will be top of mind. The private royal residence in the Scottish highlands was her summer sanctuary throughout her record-breaking reign, and shetraditionally spentevery August there.
Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral at age 96 on Sept. 8, 2022.
Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at Balmoral.Bettmann
source: people.com
