King Charles III hosted a significant reception for Scotland's business community at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Monday, 19 January 2026, sharing a dram of whisky with First Minister John Swinney.
A Royal Toast to Scottish Enterprise
The event, held in the Throne Room, was designed to celebrate the nation's entrepreneurial spirit. It brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, and representatives from capital investment firms. Key sectors represented included technology, healthcare, and artificial intelligence (AI). The King was joined not only by SNP leader John Swinney but also by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.
Whisky Tasting with a Champion Distillery
The reception commenced with a whisky tasting, featuring representatives from the renowned Rosebank Distillery. Founded in Falkirk in 1840, Rosebank had recently achieved the prestigious best in show award at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
His Majesty sampled a 31-year-old Rosebank whisky, remarking that it had a distinct taste of toffee. Leonard Russell, the distillery's managing director, and his son Tom Russell, head of export, spoke with the monarch about their business.
"He did know about whisky and he was interested that it was triple distilled and wanted to know why it had won best whisky in the world in the San Francisco competition, which is the biggest competition in America," Leonard Russell said. "He said it's got notes of toffee which is what you get from long aged whisky."
The family-run firm expressed feeling "honoured" to share their success with the King. Mr Russell added praise for the royal role, stating, "What the King does to bring attention to businesses in Scotland is a remarkable thing."
Royal Engagements Amid Family Proceedings
The King and Queen Camilla were both undertaking engagements in Scotland as the Duke of Sussex's trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail began at the High Court in London. Prince Harry appeared in person at the Royal Courts of Justice to follow proceedings, with expectations he would give evidence later in the week.
In related written submissions, the Duke's barrister, David Sherborne, argued that Associated Newspapers Limited's methods of gathering information had left Prince Harry "paranoid beyond belief" and created a "massive strain" on his personal relationships.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla conducted a separate engagement, visiting the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh where she greeted schoolchildren.
