THE KING’S ARRIVAL
Orders to the clansmen lining the roadway to the park heralded the approach of the Royal party from Balmoral. The Princess Royal, accompanied by the Princess Maud and the young Earl of Macduff, who came from the new Mar Lodge, preceded the main party, and were cordially received. They were met by Sir Dighton Probyn, V.C., who, with his venerable appearance, was a notable figure. At three o’clock the red-coated outriders of the Royal equipage swung into view, and their Majesties and the members of their family had a tremendous ovation. Cheers of real Highland heartiness rang out round the enclosure. The King and Queen, who, with Princess Mary and the Duke of Connaught, occupied the first carriage, were on stepping out greeted by the Princess Royal, and there was a pretty exchange of family salutations. The King was in Highland dress, with a kilt of Royal Stuart tartan. Immediately on entering the pavilion he doffed his Highland cloak, and he and the Duke of Connaught then chatted together. Prince Albert and Prince George were also in Highland garb, the former wearing a Balmoral cap and the latter a Glengarry, while Prince Henry wore a lounge suit with bowler hat.
Grouped in the pavilion, the Royal party made a happy family picture. Her Majesty was dressed in a light grey gaberdine costume, with shoulder wrap of ostrich feathers and a blue toque. Princess Mary was also in grey, and wore a smart grey hat of silk, with a narrow wreathing of ostrich feathers, and had an ermine scarf. The Princess Royal had a skirt of Duff tartan and a navy blue jacket and black hat, with upstanding grey wings in front, and the Princess Maud, wearing a similar skirt, had a bottle green jacket and a cerise hat.
After the arrival of the Royal party, the clansmen marched round the park, the Balmoral men leading, followed by the Duffs and the Farquharsons, to the stirring music of the pipes. The games, which then proceeded, were watched with the closest interest by all the occupants of the Royal pavilion. There were races and dances for the younger generation, as well as for the old and stalwart kilted figures who made up the rivalry of more strenuous events.
Their Majesties and their party drove away at 4.30. Cheers accompanied them round the park, and the expressions of loyalty in the roadway outside, where the picturesque clansmen were again assembled, sent back their echo to us after the Royal visitors had passed out of sight.