Britain's Prince Charles has baked a Christmas cake for Scottish schoolchildren.
The royal heir is continuing on the late Queen Mother's annual tradition of sending a special cake to pupils at Crossroads Primary School, a ritual that dates back to the 50s when his grandmother - who is the current monarch Queen Elizabeth's mother - bought Barrogill Castle as her Highland base on the North coast of Scotland and renamed it the Castle of Mey.
The Queen Mother presented local pupils with a cake every year, making it even bigger when the school merged with the nearby Crossroads Primary School in order to ensure every child gets a slice.
Shirley Farquhar, the castle's managing director, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "The children are delighted the tradition is kept alive. The prince's office is sent a picture of the cake, which was decorated at the castle by Jenny Dunnet, and presented to the school in time for everyone to enjoy before the Christmas break. The children each took a slice home with them."
Charles, 65, has been ensuring the tradition lives on since the Queen Mother's death in 2002.
This year's festive offering was studded with gold stars and featured the message, 'Merry Christmas', whereas last year's more elaborate affair boasted an edible figurine of the Queen Mother sitting outside the castle with one of her dogs.
Tagged in Prince Charles Queen Mother Queen Elizabeth