King and Queen meet Scottish footballing legend at Holyroodhouse garden party

King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by Scottish footballing royalty at a garden party hosted in the Palace of Holyroodhouse this afternoon.

Thousands of guests descended upon the palace in Edinburgh on Tuesday for the annual Royal Week garden party, where they were greeted by both the King and Queen.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal also joined the gathering in the palace grounds.

Despite most attendees arriving with umbrellas at the ready, the weather proved generally manageable as the rain stayed at bay throughout the engagement.

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The prestigious event forms a central part of Royal Week in Scotland, during which the royal family welcomes individuals who have demonstrated notable service to their local communities.

Among those who met Their Majesties was Isla Grist, a 17-year-old from Inverness who lives with Epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition commonly referred to as butterfly skin.

The condition causes severe blistering of the skin and affects approximately 5,000 people across Britain.

The young campaigner attended alongside former Scottish football star Graeme Souness, representing the charity Debra UK in their efforts to highlight the condition to the monarch.

Reflecting on her conversation with the King, Isla noted: "He asked me about the charity that me and Graeme are involved in. He was very up-to-knowledge, which must be a hard job with all these people."

She described the encounter as "a great honour", admitting she felt "a little bit nervous, but mostly excited".

Souness, who captained Scotland at the 1986 World Cup and played for and managed both Liverpool and Rangers, has dedicated seven years to supporting the charity.

He was appointed president of Debra UK in April.

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The former footballer and television pundit emphasised that the royal meeting served a singular purpose.

"With more awareness, that means we can raise more money, because if you dig deep into this condition, it's harrowing when you witness it," Souness explained.

He expressed hope that photographs of Isla alongside the King and Queen would gain widespread coverage.

"It was all about awareness," he added.

Souness completed a relay swim across the English Channel last year as part of his fundraising efforts for the charity.

The royal engagements continue on Wednesday, when the King and Queen will be joined by the Duke of Rothesay and the Duke of Edinburgh at St Giles' Cathedral for the Thistle Service.

The Order of the Thistle represents Scotland's highest order of chivalry, honouring 16 knights alongside Scottish men and women who have distinguished themselves through public service or exceptional contributions to the nation's life.

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