BACK TO BALMORAL
JOINED BY FAMILY AS THEIR SUMMER BREAK GETS UNDER WAY AT BALMORAL
It is a tradition she has honoured for her entire life, but as she took up residence inside Balmoral Castle last week, the Queen marked the start of a new era.
It is her first summer at her idyllic Scottish retreat since the death of her beloved husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh.
As she welcomes her family for their annual holiday there, with all the traditional picnics, barbecues and walks he was so fond of, his absence will be keenly felt.
But it is also a chance for the monarch and her loved ones to enjoy the relaxed gathering properly for the first time since 2019 as pandemic restrictions recede.
While the monarch and Prince Philip spent six weeks there last summer, they were said to be frustrated that they couldn’t host guests and family members as usual because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
This year, according to sources, the Queen is delighted to be back at Balmoral, and her beaming smile as
she was formally welcomed to her private home north of the border was a testament to that.
In the first ceremony of its kind for two years, she was greeted by a guard of honour from the Royal Regiment of Scotland’s Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion and the Pipes and Drums of the regiment’s 3rd Battalion, The Black Watch.
The Queen, radiant in pink, and wearing the regiment’s brooch as Colonel- in- Chief, also seemed amused to be reunited with its mascot, Lance Corporal Cruachan IV.
The Shetland pony famously attempted to eat her posy during a visit to Stirling Castle in 2017, but was impeccably behaved this year.
Having departed Windsor for her 50,000-acre Royal Deeside estate on 23 July, the Queen spent the first fortnight of her holiday in the relatively modest Craigowan Lodge, a seven- bedroom stone property about a mile away from the castle.
As her other residences across the UK opened up to
She beamed as she was formally welcomed to her private home north of the border
visitors, the granite castle closed to tourists on 2 August, giving staff a week to prepare it for the Queen’s extended stay with her family.
The royals typically spend much of their summer break outdoors, shooting, fishing, walking and enjoying picnics and barbecues.
And while Her Majesty is likely to continue to take precautions given the ongoing pandemic – she is not expected to worship at Crathie Kirk during her stay this year – she is keen to return to some of her favourite Balmoral pastimes while there.
Prince Philip, fondly remembered after his death by the Duke of Sussex as “master of the barbecue”, would preside over the grill, while the Queen washed up
The Queen was greeted by a guard of honour
after guests including Prime Ministers and their spouses had joined them for lunch.
This year, Her Majesty will host Boris and Carrie Johnson among other guests.
THE HEART OF THE FAMILY
Most importantly, this will be a chance for her to spend precious private time with her loved ones – as a mother and grandmother, away from the pressures of public life.
A picture released following Philip’s death in April showed the Queen and her late husband surrounded by their greatgrandchildren at their Scottish home.
And this year the Queen may be joined by two of their youngest great-grandchildren at Balmoral for the first time. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank flew into Aberdeen last week with six- monthold son August, while Zara and Mike Tindall are likely to visit with five-monthold baby boy Lucas and his big sisters Mia, seven, and Lena, three, later in the summer.
Eugenie has previously said of Balmoral: “I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands.
“Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time.”
Speaking in 2016, she added: “It’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see
them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.”
Prince Philip will be hugely missed this summer, but the royals will no doubt share plenty of happy memories as they come together to remember him.
Just a day after the Queen took up residence in the castle, she was joined by the Duke of York and his former wife Sarah, Duchess of York. Their arrival came after a civil lawsuit was filed against Prince Andrew in New York by Virginia Giuffre, alleging that she was the victim of sex trafficking and that he had sex with her when she was 17. Prince Andrew has previously vehemently denied her allegations.
THE FIRM REUNITED
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who have both been of huge support to Her Majesty since the Duke’s death in April, were seen arriving at Balmoral two days after Andrew. The heir to the throne and his wife are staying nearby at their Birkhall home, from where they can visit the Queen.
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the
Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, are all expected to visit over the coming weeks.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge usually spend time there with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis before the children return to school. Earlier this year Prince William spoke of his and Kate’s deep affection for Scotland, saying: “George, Charlotte and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us and they are starting to build their own happy memories here too.”
And he evoked some of the magic of Balmoral, adding: “As I grew up, I saw how my grandmother relishes every minute she spends here and my father is never happier than in walking among the hills.
“My childhood was full of holidays having fun in the fresh air, swimming in lochs, family barbecues with my grandfather in command – and yes, the odd midge.”
Despite being on holiday, work goes on each day for the Queen as she receives her red box of policy, Cabinet and other state documents from the Government and her representatives overseas.
Last week she also sent a message of congratulations to Team GB athletes on their return from the
Toyko Olympics. She said: “The skill, determination and hard work shown by the athletes and their support teams throughout the unique and challenging circumstances of the last year has been an inspiration to us all.
“I extend my very best wishes to everyone who has played a part in this extraordinary achievement.”
A BUSY SUMMER AHEAD hello!
understands the Queen is gearing up for a packed autumn diary on her return to London.
She is expected to take part in more face-to-face engagements, including investiture ceremonies and visits beyond the capital.
A royal source said: “There is a real appetite to get out and about and October will be very busy.”
The royals will be out in force in the lead up to the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year, as she marks an incredible 70 years on the throne.
And the Queen and her family are also likely to show support for 2022’s Festival UK, billed as a “UKwide festival of creativity”. It will showcase ten creative projects developed by teams from the fields of science, technology, arts, engineering and mathematics.
But for now, the Queen will be making the most of the privacy and tranquillity of her beloved Scottish castle, taking a well-earnt break at the estate that she and Prince Philip fondly described as their “happy place”.
‘There is a real appetite to get out and about and October will be very busy’