King Charles and Queen Camilla were at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Wednesday on the latest leg of their Scotland tour.
The monarch is north of the border as part of the first Holyrood Week since his coronation in May. The royal couple took in the ERI to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
Delighted staff and patients met the couple who proceeded to cut a cake to celebrate the landmark day, reports the Scottish Express. Queen Camilla joked she “shared a birthday” with the National Health Service which came into being on July 5, 1948.
Read more - Tragedy as young Edinburgh man, 21, dies in horror crash with car on busy road
It was launched by then health secretary Aneurin Bevan at Park Hospital in Manchester, known as Trafford General Hospital today. Chatting to a group of patients, she said: "I'm 75, I'm the same age as the NHS - we share a birthday.”
King Charles, 74, also quipped about his age telling some of the hospital’s oldest charges: “You get to the age I am, things don't work as well as they used to.”
The royal couple were given a cradle-to-the-grave tour of the Royal Infirmary, meeting maternity staff from midwives to obstetricians, before chatting to those caring for patients coming towards the end of their lives.
In the hospital's reception, a huge crowd was waiting to see the King and Queen after word got around they were visiting.
Camilla stopped to talk to doctors Zack Hassan, 28, and Robert Cronshaw, 29.
Dr Hassan, who when not working on the wards hosts the Healthy Discussions podcast, said: "She said to us, 'Doctors are looking younger every year' and that's something I hear from my patients."
The visit came as officials mounted a huge security operation to ensure anti-monarchy groups will not interrupt King Charles’s Scots coronation in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
He will be presented with the Honours of Scotland - Britain’s oldest crown jewels - at the special ceremony in St Giles Cathedral.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Meticulous planning
Police Scotland have meticulously planned the day having received intelligence of protestors aiming to disrupt the event.
There are also anti-terror measures in place with the cathedral shut for a sweep of any dangerous devices ahead of the service while sections of the Royal Mile will also be cordoned off.
Dozens of soldiers from the most deployed unit in the British Armed Forces will also take part in the event.
Some 60 servicemen and women will swap their combat gear for formal uniform to attend the ceremonial duties in the capital.
The Scots troops will lead a procession along the Royal Mile to St Giles to mark the occasion.
Lieutenant Damiani, from The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “Our troops that are parading on Wednesday have been practicing their drills, pipes and drums for weeks – balancing this with their countless other responsibilities.”
