THE
History of the
Braemar Gathering
On 20th July, 1832, at a General Meeting held in Braemar Castle, it was decided that £5 of the Honorary funds of the Society should be given as prizes to be competed for on the 23rd of August next. Not only was this effectively the start of the Braemar Games, although the first reference in the minutes to the competitions as “Games” did not come for a further ten years, the introduction of monetary prizes brought with it a need for formal regulation of the competitions.
1832
OUR HISTORY
1832
The First of its Kind
The Braemar Gathering was first held in something like its present form in 1832, and has been visited regularly by a reigning monarch since that time. The late Queen Elizabeth II was our distinguished patron.
1866
Royal Status
Braemar Highland Society was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria. It is the oldest surviving Friendly Society in the UK.
2002
Braemar Royal Highland Charity
The Braemar Royal Highland Charity was created. A wholly owned subsidiary to undertake all of the society’s charitable activities — including the organising of the annual Braemar Gathering.
2019
Grand Opening
The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion and Visitor Centre opened to the public, showcasing heritage items dating back to the first games under the Society’s auspices.
1832 - The First of its Kind
The Braemar Gathering was first held in something like its present form in 1832, and has been visited regularly by a reigning monarch since that time. The late Queen Elizabeth II was our distinguished patron.
1866 - Royal Status
Braemar Highland Society was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria. It is the oldest surviving Friendly Society in the UK.
2002 - Braemar Royal Highland Charity
The Braemar Royal Highland Charity was created. A wholly owned subsidiary to undertake all of the society’s charitable activities — including the organising of the annual Braemar Gathering.
2019 - Grand Opening
The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion and Visitor Centre opened to the public, showcasing heritage items dating back to the first games under the Society’s auspices.
Early Years
Twenty Long Decades – A Few Glimpses of Braemar Royal Highland Society’s Early Years on the Occasion of its Bicentenary.
Support Us
If you would like to make a donation to our work to promote and preserve our Highland Games heritage for future generations, we would be most grateful.
OUR SPONSORS
