Royals Celebrate Community Spirit, Honor Late Author at Scottish Village Hall

In the days following the death of their friend, beloved author Dame Jilly Cooper, King Charles and Queen Camilla have found solace in celebrating community spirit in their local Scottish village.

On Wednesday, October 9th, 2025, the royal couple visited the village hall in Ballater, just a few miles from their Balmoral estate home. There, they were treated to the premiere of a new fiddle tune composed by local musician Dr. Paul Anderson to mark the 150th anniversary of the nearby Albert Hall's construction.

The royals also met with pupils who designed winning flags in a community competition honoring the milestone, as well as members of the Ballater Local History Group and representatives from The Scottish Women's Institute and a Lego group that regularly gathers at the hall. Inside, they were shown a silver trowel used to lay the foundation stone in 1874.

The outing came just days after the passing of their close friend, Dame Jilly Cooper, whom the Queen had paid tribute to, saying she was "a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend." The royal couple have been spending much of their time at the Balmoral estate since the summer, with Charles traveling to London for official duties and medical treatment.