New photo of kilted King released for Burns Night

A new photograph of King Charles III wearing a tartan kilt at Balmoral Castle has been released to mark Burns Night.

The image was taken in the library of the Royal Family's Scottish holiday home in Aberdeenshire in the autumn.

The King's kilt was made from the King Charles III tartan, based on the Balmoral tartan sett - or pattern - which dates back to about 1850.

The photo was issued as the King prepares to visit the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp for the 80th anniversary of its liberation on 27 January.

The green, blue and red pattern was designed by the Scottish Tartans Authority in 2023 to recognise "His Majesty's strong support in preserving the culture and traditions of Highland Dress and Scottish Tartans".

The King is also seen wearing a tie in matching colours and a brown sporran - a pouch that hangs in front of a kilt.

The new photo was taken by Millie Pilkington, who has photographed the Royal Family on multiple occasions, including as the private photographer for the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

She also took the picture of the King and Queen Camilla in the garden of Buckingham Palace that featured on their Christmas card last year.

The photo of the King at Balmoral was released to mark Burns Night. The annual celebration commemorates the life of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, who died in 1796.

The night is traditionally marked with a supper of haggis, accompanied by neeps and tatties - mashed turnips and potatoes.

On Tuesday, the King will travel to Auschwitz, in Poland, to take part in a Holocaust commemoration ceremony.

It is his first trip of the year, and comes almost 12 months after he was diagnosed with cancer.

He withdrew from public events for a number of weeks while starting treatment but resumed attending events in April, visiting Australia and Samoa late last year.