Today I was over at Crathie Kirk, the church where members of the royal family go when they’re in residence at Balmoral Castle. The agency Barcroft Media had booked the job because it was thought that Prince Charles’  wife Camilla Parker Bowles would make her first public appearance since breaking her leg. We were looking for a shot of her hobbling around on crutches.

Unfortunately she didn’t turn up. A disappointment for me, but an even bigger disappointment for the other agency togs who had travelled up especially from Glasgow and Edinburgh! What a waste of a day. We all had to settle for photos of Prince Charles who turned up on his own.

Prince Charles leaves Crathie Church

11 April 2010: Prince Charles / the Duke of Rothesay leaves Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland, shortly after noon on Sunday. It had been expected that the Duke would be accompanied to church by his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwalll, but he was not. Picture: Andrew Smith

We thought it would still be worth putting the photos out to the papers in case they wanted to do a story about Camilla being stuck at Balmoral while Charles went out to church. So I got some scene-setting photos of the church and the crowd of onlookers:

11 April 2010: Pictured are some of the people who came to Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland on Sunday to see Prince Charles / the Duke of Rothesay, who was expected to be accompanied to church by his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwalll. However the Duchess did not attend. Picture: Andrew Smith

11 April 2010: Pictured are some of the people who came to Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland on Sunday to see Prince Charles / the Duke of Rothesay, who was expected to be accompanied to church by his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwalll. However the Duchess did not attend. Picture: Andrew Smith

11 April 2010: Photo of Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland, the church used by the royal family when they are at Balmoral Castle. Picture: Andrew Smith

11 April 2010: Photo of Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland, the church used by the royal family when they are at Balmoral Castle. Picture: Andrew Smith

11 April 2010: Photo of Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland, the church used by the royal family when they are at Balmoral Castle. Picture: Andrew Smith

This is the private side entrance that members of the royal family use:

11 April 2010: Photo of Crathie Kirk (church) in Scotland, the church used by the royal family when they are at Balmoral Castle. Pictured is the private entrance to the church that is used by members of the royal family. Picture: Andrew Smith