King Charles Just Swapped His Signature Look (and Embraced the No-Pants Look)

And he pulled it off

KingCharles Quilt
Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images

King Charles was out and about this weekend but don’t expect photos of your standard royal ribbon-cutting or palace reception. Nope, the monarch was spotted getting into the spirit of the 2025 Mey Highland Games, held on August 2 in John O’Groats, Scotland. And his outfit? It was giving full Highland energy.

While King Charles usually sticks to his royal fashion uniform (think neutral-tone suits in navy or tan), he switched things up in honor of the occasion. He ditched the pants entirely and stepped out in a bold tartan kilt. The red, blue and green pattern was paired with a beige waistcoat and jacket, a leather sporran, red hose and just the right amount of royal flair. And he pulled it off.

KingCharlesKilt
Peter Summers/Getty Images

Buckingham Palace recapped the moment on social media, posting photos of the King cheering on events, chatting with locals and generally blending in like a total pro.

“The King has attended the Mey Highland Games in Caithness!” the caption read. “The Games celebrate the hospitality, culture and talents of the people of the North Highlands,” the post continued, noting highlights like pipe bands, tug of war and caber tossing (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like).

A quick history lesson: The Mey Games were first held in 1970 to mark Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s 70th birthday while she was staying at the Castle of Mey, according to the official website. The local community wanted to celebrate her with a proper Highland gathering and she loved it so much, it became an annual tradition. King Charles, who’s attended for years, took over the symbolic role of Chieftain back in 2002.

Today, the event is still going strong as an independent charity and continues to be one of the most charming, community-forward highlights of the Caithness calendar, the website notes. And this year? The King brought the style. No pants required.

Want all the latest royal news sent right to your inbox? Click here.



LongHeadshot

Assistant Editor, News and Entertainment

  • Writes breaking news and entertainment content
  • Covers award show red carpets and movie premieres
  • Has earned two Edward R. Murrow Awards