Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, attended the traditional Sunday service at Crathie Kirk on the Balmoral estate alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The service, held at the church on the Deeside estate where monarchs have long spent their late‑summer break, came in the days after Buckingham Palace announced the death of the Duchess of Kent. King Charles, 76, was seen wearing a traditional Scottish kilt as he stepped out for the morning service. Lady Victoria Starmer wore a two‑part vibrant red ensemble.
Dame Joanna Lumley was also among those attending on Balmoral after taking part in the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on Saturday. King Charles and Queen Camilla had marked the gathering by paying respects to the late Duchess of Kent; at Braemar the King wore a black blazer and tie and the Queen wore a black armband.
The Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute separately on Saturday while attending Women's Rugby World Cup matches. The Princess of Wales watched England's Red Roses at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium and wore a casual black ensemble. The Prince of Wales attended a match in Exeter and wore a black suit and tie. In a statement signed "W & C", William and Kate said the Duchess had "worked tirelessly to help others" and that she would be "much missed". Buckingham Palace said the Duchess died at Kensington Palace on Thursday night, aged 92, surrounded by members of her family. She is survived by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and their three children. A spokesman for Prince Harry said he had offered his condolences privately to the Kent family.
It is customary for the sovereign to invite a serving prime minister and their spouse to Balmoral late in the summer so the monarch and premier can meet in a more relaxed setting. During the late Queen Elizabeth II's reign, prime ministers often spent several nights on the estate and took part in estate gatherings; memoirs and accounts of past premiers record widely varying experiences, from convivial riverside picnics with Harold Wilson to more strained stays by Margaret Thatcher. When Parliament is sitting, the King and prime minister meet for a weekly audience.
Sir Keir first spent a few days at Balmoral during last year’s summer break and returned this year as the royal household continued its autumn calendar of engagements. The Crathie Kirk service remains a regular feature of the monarch’s time in Scotland and is attended by members of the royal household, invited guests and, on occasion, senior politicians.
No changes to the royal calendar beyond the planned appearances were announced by the palace in connection with the death of the Duchess of Kent. Tributes and messages of condolence have been issued across the family and from public figures since the palace announcement, and members of the royal family have combined public engagements with private remembrance in the days after her death.