Dancers at the Braemar Gathering in Scotland. The festival begins today

© Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Image

Let the Highland games begin

Cue the bagpipes – today’s homepage brings us to Scotland for the Braemar Gathering, an annual celebration of Scottish culture that starts today in the village of Braemar. These Highland games include traditional dance, music, athletic competitions – and tartan, lots and lots of tartan (part of Scotland’s national dress). Since 1848, Braemar has regularly been attended by the British Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II, the official patron of the games, has attended every year since 1952, when she ascended the throne. It’s worth noting that she likes tartan too, and even has her own personal style of tartan – a pattern called the ‘Royal Stewart’.