Queen Elizabeth Was All Smiles at This Year's Braemar Gathering

Scotland's Braemar Gathering, a highland games competition, has taken place in some form for nine hundred years—and since Queen Victoria first attended in 1848, the royal family has made an annual appearance, cheering on participants as they face off in tug-of-war, hammer throw, and many other competitions. The Queen is patron of the event, and serves as its "Chieftan."

As the event takes place in the middle of the royals' Scottish vacation, it also offers royal watchers a rare sighting of the Queen and others while they're residing in Balmoral Castle. Here, see all the best photos of Queen Elizabeth and her fellow royal attendees—Prince Charles, Camilla, Autumn Phillips, and Peter Phillips—enjoying themselves at the Braemar Gathering.