King Charles thanks Aberdeenshire community for support after Queen's death

King Charles has visited an Aberdeenshire village to thank the local community for its support after the death of the Queen.

Along with Camilla, the Queen Consort, he attended a reception in Ballater, a few miles from Balmoral where the Queen died in September.

Hundreds of people were involved in the delivery of the events which followed.

The King and his wife met riders and horses who lined the route of the Queen's coffin cortege.

They were told of the extensive planning implemented in the north east of Scotland following the death of the Queen.

At the reception, they met people including council workers and volunteers who were involved.

Horses and riders and the farmers who lined up their tractors in tribute to the late monarch were also in attendance.

Roddy Blackhill, 54, said: "They were really easy to talk to and down to earth and were interested in what was happening on the farm and how harvest went."

The farmer said the idea to form the tribute as the Queen's coffin was driven to Edinburgh was made quickly and, after a few phone calls, everything fell into place.

Michael Adie, 92, who was an usher at the Queen's wedding when he was just 17, said of King Charles: "He's carrying on a great tradition of his mother.

"She was wonderful. She put everybody at their ease and treated them as a normal human being. He is doing the same thing."

Local schoolchildren also had the chance to meet the new King and his wife.

Brodie Wynne, six, representing Crathie School, said he spoke to Camilla about his dogs and ferrets.

The King and Queen Consort also viewed a display of media coverage and images.

The Royal Family has strong links with the local area. Many in the community of Ballater, less than eight miles from Balmoral, said they considered the Queen to be more of a friendly neighbour than a monarch.

Ballater was badly hit by flooding in 2015 when the River Dee burst its banks during Storm Frank.

The Queen later met residents who had been affected, and praised local relief efforts.