The couple’s official visit to the Scottish capital ended with a showcase of the city’s heritage and modern progressive future, including a Bollywood-style dance display in the setting of Edinburgh Castle. Charles and Camilla were offered a “dram” of Macallan single malt Scotch whisky as they toured stalls which featured everything from the charity Barnardo’s to a merino wool producer which had brought sheep to the event. After taking a sip of the 52-year-old single malt, Camilla looked into the glass and said: “That hit the spot, that hit the spot.
” The couple, who received a ceremonial welcome to the castle, also watched as Ihayami, a dance troupe of Scottish women with an Asian heritage, performed for the royal couple to Scottish bagpipe music. Charles chatted to the group afterwards and dancer Eshita Danouri said: “This is our way of paying homage to our roots and recognising our Scottish heritage.” Among the guests were broadcaster Gail Porter, originally from Edinburgh, who returned to celebrate her home city’s anniversary.
She said: “Edinburgh is beautiful, a stunning place, we’ve got a castle, we’ve got a palace, we’ve got the Royal Mile and people are so extremely friendly.” Sir Alexander McCall Smith, creator of The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, who was knighted by Charles on Tuesday for services to literature, academia and charity, read a poem about Edinburgh. His verse mentioned the city’s famous Royal Mile thoroughfare an.
