KING Charles has been spotted hiking alone by a group of mountain bikers.
The monarch, 74, was walking along a footpath on Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire when the cyclists bumped into him.
The Royal, who was wearing a jacket, flat cap and carrying and trekking stick, stopped for a chat.
A clip of the surprise meeting was shared online by mountain biker Andrew McAvoy.
He regularly shares his outdoor adventures on his McTrail Rider YouTube channel.
In a video shared yesterday, Andrew started riding with two friends from the Royal Lochnagar Distillery on the sprawling estate.
They were heading for Gelder Shiel – known as the Ernie's Bothy or the 'royal bothy' – via Lochnagar mountain.
Before setting off, Andrew said: "I think Charlie by is here because there's guards down there with big assault rifles and stuff like that – it looks pretty cool.
"They probably wouldn't do that if no one important was here."
Moments before meeting the King, Andrew said while riding his bike: "Here, I don't care for the Royal but it would be cool to see Charlie."
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After heading along gravel tracks the group were passed by several Land Rovers.
His friend Ben added: "I bet that's some minor Royal you know."
After stopping off to drop their kit off at the bothy they met King Charles on the Balmoral trails.
When asked if he was still on his summer vacation, the Royal replied: "Yes. It is wonderful up here.
"The midges are horrendous. It's typical.
"I like my walking."
He told the cyclists that he renovated Gelder Shiel with "the help of the people of Ballater".
He added: "Oh good. I'm so glad that it works alright."
King Charles said that he used to camp in the bothy with his late dad, Prince Philip, and sister, Princess Anne.
Before they parted, he added: "Take care. Don't fall off."
After the Royal encounter, Andrew said on his camera: "That was a king. That was pretty cool.
"What a nice man, lovely man. Had time for us."
He added: "Do you know all I can think of, I wish I met the Queen now."
Gelder Shiel bothy was built in the late 19th century by Queen Victoria and has been used by hillwalkers for decades.
It was renovated in 2015 and it has running water and a toilet.
Balmoral Estate has been a popular residence for the Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth II spent many summers enjoying the idyllic area.
She passed away at Balmoral Castle on September 8 last year, aged 96.
You can view McTrail Rider's full video here.
It comes as the King, wearing a French beret, touched down in Paris with the Queen for their delayed State Visit.
They jetted from Farnborough to Orly Airport on an RAF Voyager and greeted at the steps of the plane on arrival.
In a symbol of French and British unity, the King, 74, was invited by President Macron to light the eternal flame at the Arc de Triomphe.
The rekindling of the flame ceremony is held to remember all those who died in World War I and World War II.
The Queen, 76, wore dusky pink wool crepe coat dress by Fiona Clare and a pink beret shaped hat with a leaf design by Philip Treacy.
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Tonight they are expected to join guests including Hugh Grant and Mick Jagger and football aces Arsene Wenger and Patrick Viera at a lavish State Banquet held in the Hall of Mirrors at Palace of Versailles.
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