King shares why Scotland has 'special place' in his heart in touching speech

King Charles has explained why Balmoral Castle has a "special place" in the hearts of the royal family as he reflected on his mother's final days.

The monarch recalled the late Queen's last moments as he spoke at an event to mark 25 years of the Scottish Parliament on Saturday. Charles suggested that she “chose” to spend her remaining time at the residence in Scotland because she loved being there.

He reminced about his family's connection to the Scottish countryside and said his “beloved grandmother was proudly Scottish”. Charles addressed the Scottish parliament and said: "Speaking from a personal perspective, Scotland has always had a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself."

READ MORE: Holyrood guest gives King a hug at event to mark 25 years of Scottish Parliament

Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 at her Scottish estate on September 8. "My late mother especially treasured the time spent at Balmoral, and it was there, in the most beloved of places, where she chose to spend her final days," said Charles.

Elsewhere in his speech, the monarch said: "We are all, at the end of each day, united by our love of Scotland. Because of its natural beauty, of course, but also because of its strength of character, based as it is on the extraordinary diversity of its peoples, whose range of ideas, skills, energy, passions, and frequently deeply-held beliefs, never cease to inspire me."

The King was showered with love as he marked the special occasion, as one woman revealed that she gave him a hug when he visited Holyrood “because of him being unwell”. Yvonne Macmillan, 59, from East Renfrewshire, said she spoke to the monarch when she attended a special ceremony to mark 25 years of the Scottish Parliament. The King was diagnosed with cancer in February this year, and underwent treatment shortly afterwards. He has now returned to public duties.

Mrs Macmillan said: “I asked him if he was feeling better and if I could give him a hug. I actually said to him: ‘Can I hug you?’ As I hugged him I said: ‘God bless you’, so it was like God giving him a hug.” Mrs Macmillan was at Holyrood accompanying her husband Russell, also 59, who is registered blind. He was invited to Saturday’s ceremony as a “local hero” – community champions nominated by each of Holyrood’s MSPs in recognition of their work in their local area.

Mr Macmillan was nominated after he set up a charity to raise money after undergoing a pancreas and kidney transplant, saying the person whose organs he received had “saved my life”. He said the King had been “grateful” for the couple’s good wishes after they asked about his health.