Prince Charles' beloved summer event, the Mey Games, has just been canceled. The traditional affair, which has been running for five decades, won't be taking place this year because of the coronavirus.
A spokesperson for the Highland Games, which mounts the annual event, confirmed the cancellation to the press. The Mey Games is supposed to take place on Aug. 1, but this early, the organizers have decided to cancel it even as lockdowns and quarantines in the U.K. could be over by then.
The organizers said in a statement that they don't want to risk the health and safety of the large and international crowds that usually gather for the Mey Games. Thus, despite the sadness of cancelling the event, it seemed the more prudent thing to do as no one knows when the coronavirus pandemic will slow down or end.
This year's Mey Games was supposed to be extra special because it is the 50th anniversary. Prince Charles was likely looking forward to it especially after his recovery from coronavirus in late March.
The Mey Games was established in honor of the Queen Mother's 70th birthday and it has always held at the Castle May in Caithness, the hometown of the late royal. The event also celebrated the royal family's Scottish roots. So successful was the Mey Games during its inaugural year that the royal family decided it would become an annual event with Prince Charles as the chieftain.
During this annual sporting competition, Prince Charles often acted as the judge in the outdoor competitions like the tug-of-war. Other contests included traditional Scottish games like hammer throw and caber toss.
In 2019, some of Prince Harry's Invictus Games participants also competed in the Scottish sports event for the first time. Thus from 3,000 in the crowd, the Mey Games grew to attract 10,000 people.
Incidentally, Prince Harry also canceled the Invictus Games for 2020 because of the coronavirus. The event for former military servicemen was supposed to take place in The Netherlands in May. However, Prince Harry announced in late March that they will not mount the fifth offering of the sporting event for the sake of the participants' health and safety.
Like Prince Charles, Prince Harry expressed his disappointment but it was the best and safest option in light of the public health crisis. The Duke of Sussex also reminded the public to look after each other amid the coronavirus threats.
