The Queen is amused

Sep 4, 2006, 15:00 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth burst into hysterics as she watched a tug-of-war at the Highland Games on Saturday (02.09.06).

The monarch shared a giggle with her son Prince Charles as they cheered on Balmoral estate who battled Invercauld, at the annual Braemar Gathering in Scotland. The queen's official Scottish residence is Balmoral Castle.

When Balmoral were declared the winners the queen was seen clapping her hands in delight.

The 80-year-old royal was also accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, her daughter Princess Anne and her husband Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence and Charles' wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The royal family refused to let poor weather ruin their day and they continued to smile during the Highland dancing and caber-tossing competitions.

Meanwhile, during his stay in Scotland Charles was refused tickets to a critically acclaimed play.

The prince tried to get seats for a production of Gregory Burke's 'Black Watch' at the National Theatre of Scotland, but the show was a complete sell-out and the theatre refused to offer the royal any special treatment.

A spokesperson for the theatre, Emma Schad, said: "Because it was very last minute when he got in touch and it was completely sold out, it would have been hard to fit him in.

"We told him it is coming back next year and we'll have more time to arrange the visit and the tickets for then."

(C) BANG Media International