QUEEN ELIZABETH II
QUEEN ELIZABETH II AS HER REIGN NEARS ITS END, THE MONARCH RELISHES TIME WITH HER HUSBAND & FAMILY
The 94-yearold monarch and her husband, Prince Philip, look back on their lives together as she prepares to step down from the throne.
For Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, there’s an air of melancholy about their annual visit to Balmoral Estate this year. Traditionally, the royal couple have always spent much of the summer at their favorite property in the Highlands of Scotland. Now that they are both in their 90s, they’re acutely aware that this could be the last vacation they pass there together.
The pair, who married in 1947, have always enjoyed the privacy and freedom that the expansive forests, farmland and moors of Balmoral’s 50,000 acres have afforded them during their extended stays. It’s a place to put aside royal protocol, disconnect from the news of the world, dress casually and spend most of the time outdoors — although the prince, who turned 99 in June, isn’t as active as he used to be. “He doesn’t have the same energy and needs to look after himself,” acknowledges a royals insider. “He knows his days are numbered and is trying to make the most of the time he has left with the queen.”
Afternoons that used to be filled with horseback riding, hunting, and fishing expeditions are now centered on gentler pastimes. “They’ll be going for long walks, playing card games and reminiscing about the old times,” confides the insider, who says that the couple often talk about “the amazing trips they took around the world and the queen’s meetings with Winston Churchill, her favorite prime minister.”
Princess Margaret, Elizabeth’s younger sister who died in 2002, also comes up frequently in their conversations. “The queen has many fond memories of her late sister and, if she could turn back time, she wouldn’t have been as harsh with her,” says the insider. “Margaret was a loose cannon, but she did make Elizabeth and Philip laugh!”
PASSING THE CROWN
In March, Elizabeth, 94, stopped making royal appearances and began spending all her time with Philip at Windsor Castle. Although she still received daily briefings, she began letting her heirs, son Prince Charles, 71, and grandson Prince William, 38, take on more of her official responsibilities. “It’s nearing the end of the queen’s reign and she’s planning to pass down the crown to Charles sooner rather than later,” confides the insider, who says that Elizabeth believes her eldest son will make a good king. “Charles has already taken on many of her duties, and since marrying Camilla [Parker
Bowles], he has become so much more self-assured. Having a strong woman by his side has helped him to become more confident.”
In her private talks with Philip, Elizabeth admits that she didn’t always do everything right as a parent, but she hopes that she did well enough. “She regrets not being closer to her children when they were younger, but is trying to make up for lost time,” confides the insider. “She’s learned to open up to her family about her emotions and now she speaks to them frequently about their personal and professional lives.”
The couple’s grandson Prince Harry, 35, who moved to America with wife Meghan Markle, 39, and their infant son, Archie, 15 months, is also often on their minds. “Elizabeth worries about Harry and how he’s coping across the pond,” says the insider.
ONE LAST SEASON
The royal couple, who arrived in Scotland by private plane on Aug. 4, plan to stay until early October this year. As usual, other family members are expected to vacation with them. “Every year, the royals block a week or so out of their busy schedules to visit Balmoral. It’s one of the few occasions where they really unite as a family,” says the insider. “This year it is going to be trickier, but Balmoral is a sprawling estate with over 150 buildings on the grounds, so there is plenty of space. Charles and Camilla and Kate [Middleton] and William and the kids are going out of their way to make it happen.” Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and their families are also expected to make the trip.
Those visits will likely be the highlights of Elizabeth and Philip’s season at Balmoral. “Spending time with their family, especially their great-grandchildren, is one of their greatest pleasures,” says the insider. “The queen may come across to some as stern, but she has become warmer with age. She and Philip say that the family is their greatest accomplishment.”