King Charles and Queen Camilla issue urgent statement following ‘devastating’ destruction

King Charles has issued a statement on behalf of himself and Queen Camilla on Wednesday, thanking volunteers, firefighters and landowners involved in tackling a major wildfire in the Cairngorms in Scotland.

The 77-year-old monarch visited An Lochan Uaine – commonly known as the Green Lochan – to find out more about the firefighting efforts, expressing his “admiration and appreciation” for all those who helped tackle the devastating wildfires that spread across the UK this summer.

Fire crews and volunteers in the Cairngorms spent almost five weeks tackling the blaze, which broke near Aviemore on July 15 and spread across 3,300 hectares of land.

Over 500 firefighters risked their lives to put out the flames, with homes, businesses, campsites and a ski resort evacuated as the fire raged on. Issuing a poignant statement following his visit, King Charles revealed he had been left “appalled” by the devastation the area had faced.

King Charles’ statement in full

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The statement read: “My wife and I have been appalled by the devastating impact of wildfires this summer and the terrible destruction they have caused to homes, livelihoods and landscapes, not only in this beautiful landscape of the Cairngorms, but across the United Kingdom and – as we have seen – other regions of Europe.

“I can only express my admiration and appreciation to all those who have worked so tirelessly and courageously, in the UK and beyond, to bring these fires under control and to those supporting communities facing the long road to restoration and renewal that still lies ahead.

“The shock of witnessing these fires around the world in recent months reminds us forcibly of the mounting pressures that prolonged heat and drought are placing upon our precious Earth, and of the increasingly urgent need not only to strengthen our collective resilience, including through preparedness and risk reduction, but also to tackle the root causes of climate change which, if not addressed, risk creating conditions which will make such tragic and costly events ever more frequent.

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“As the work of recovery still goes on for many, the compassion and fortitude of the communities affected shine through. It is my most heartfelt hope that they continue to find in one another the strength to rebuild.”

King Charles’ visit to the Cairngorms

King Charles arrived shortly after 11 am, wearing a grey blazer and chinos. He was pictured using a shepherd’s crook for part of the visit, helping him navigate the rocky woodland terrain.

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The monarch spoke to representatives from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the RSPB, NatureScot, and local estate staff, and appeared deeply invested in the issue.

At one point, Charles was overheard discussing how native Caledonian pine trees recover after a fire, noting it was a “great relief” that the area had finally received some rain.

Cairngorms National Park boss Grant Moir spoke to the Press Association following the visit, reiterating how important it was to the local community.

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“It was great to have him here and to show him the damage that was caused by the wildfire,” he said. “But also to talk about what’s going to happen in the future and how we’re all working together to ensure these things are minimised in the future, and that we can do more to try and protect these amazing places.”

He said the King’s visit is “incredibly important” in raising awareness of the wildfire and the ongoing work to help the area recover from it.