Gail Porter pulled a nervous face as she waited to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla at Edinburgh Castle today.
The television personality, 52, who was born in the Scottish capital, greeted the royals as a party was held to mark the city’s 900th anniversary.
As the monarch approached the castle, Ms Porter, who wore a black blazer paired with a black dress and knee-high Doc Martens, appeared tense with her eyebrows raised.
Ms Porter was diagnosed with alopecia (hair loss) in 2005, with the star seeing her TV work dry up at the time and she later found herself homeless.
For the majority of the last two decades she has decided not to wear a wig in order to raise awareness about the condition as she likes people coming to her to talk about hair loss.
Gail Porter pulled a nervous face as she waited to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla at Edinburgh Castle today
The television presenter shakes King Charles’ hand outside Edinburgh Castle today
Ms Porter, TV personality, with Alexander McCall Smith, Author, in attendance at the celebration
‘I’m so used to not having hair that I’m not sure what the fuss is about,’ she said earlier this year. ‘It all happened so quickly that I just had to get on with it and I was determined not to let anyone bring me down.’
Ms Porter was at the height of her career in the 1990s, hosting shows including Top Of The Pops, and The Big Breakfast when she was first diagnosed with the condition.
In 2005 she lost her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes and after vowing not to wear a wig for television appearances, work dried up.
‘My personality took a bit of a knock. Jobs just stopped, because you don’t look the same. “Would you wear a wig, would you mind wearing a wig?” No I don’t want to wear a wig. This is how it is,’ she sold Sacrifice and Success podcast.
Over the years she battled with her mental health and even became homeless.
But today she beamed as she met the King and Queen in her hometown.
As the King and Queen arrived at the historic building, they were greeted by bhangra dancers and music from a local accordion player as they walked up to the castle.
A service was then held where new knights and ladies were welcomed into the Order of the Thistle. Both Camilla and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh were formally installed as members during the service at St Giles’ Cathedral.
Ms Porter beamed as she shook hands with King Charles outside Edinburgh Castle today
The King began the ceremony by telling his wife: ‘It is our pleasure Her Majesty the Queen be installed a Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.’
The Queen is patron of Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres, founded in Edinburgh in 1996 and now with centres across Scotland, England and Wales.
She is also patron or president of a number of charities based in Scotland, including Crathie Opportunity Holidays, Scotland’s Gardens Scheme and Horseback UK, and is an honorary member of the Ballater Women’s Institute and the Upper Deeside Art Society.
Edward holds several patronages of Scottish charitable organisations including the Edinburgh International Festival and was joined by his wife Sophie.
The Princess Royal was listed in the order of service as being present at the event but did not attend as she is still recovering from concussion following her recent accident.
The event ended when the King and Queen cut a cake baked by 2020 Great British Bake off winner Peter Sawkins.
Due to the General Election tomorrow, July 4, this year’s Royal Week in Edinburgh has been shortened with today’s celebration rounding-off the trip.
The King will be needed for the formal processes in the aftermath of the election, including the appointment of a government.