Braemar Royal Highland Society was born quietly and in humble circumstances as the Braemar Wright Society during the third week of July 1815, as a result of late 18th century legislation designed to encourage the formation of mutual assistance societies. Entrants had to pay 10/- (50p) initially, plus 1/- (5p) per quarter, in return for which there was provision for sickness and death benefit, plus a widow's allowance. Many such societies were formed about the same time, but few indeed survived.

The Braemar Wright Society was formally constituted in 1816, six months to the day after the battle of Waterloo, and the following year was formally registered as a Friendly Society - we believe it to be the oldest surviving Friendly Society in the country, with the register number of FS1.

In 1826 the name of the Society was changed to The Braemar Highland Society. This was at the suggestion of the then Deputy Master (Vice President), Charles Cumming, Earl Fife's factor on Mar estate. Fife was at that time President of the Society, and it seems likely that the idea of change originated with him.

At this time, wrights (both wheel wrights and square wrights or joiners) were very active in Braemar, and they had given their name to the annual procession culminating in what is now the Braemar Gathering. It was known as the Vrichts' or Wrights' Walk. In 1832 the Braemar Highland Society decided to give £5 for prizes at the Gathering, and from that time on, the Highland Society has organised the Braemar Gathering, which is now by far its major undertaking..

From the time of her first appearance at the Gathering in 1848, Queen Victoria took a close interest both in the Society and the Gathering, and in 1866 ordered that the title "Royal" should be added to the name of the Society.

In 1971, the Lord Lyon King of Arms granted Letters Patent to the Society, which thereby became armigerous, or bearing its own Coat of Arms.

Braemar Royal Highland Society has four sections, which operate as follows:-

Friendly Society
Elects applicants who fulfil certain criteria, collects contributions, and pays pensions, death benefits and widows' pensions to members.

Gathering Section
Funds the annual Braemar Gathering.

Charitable Fund
Makes an annual distribution of monies to charities, both national and local.

Honorary Fund
Applicants who are elected Honorary Members contribute an annual donation to this fund, which is dedicated, "For the preservation of the Highland garb, and as far as possible of the Celtic language, the support of loyal, peaceable upright and manly conduct, and the promotion of social and friendly feelings among the inhabitants of the district".