The Royal Family are set to head to Scotland for their first summer Balmoral break there since Queen Elizabeth II died last year.
Almost one year on from the loss of his late mother, King Charles is looking forward to hosting his first summer at the Scotland-based residence – along with Queen Camilla.
The couple will be joined by the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
September 8 will mark the family’s first full year without the late monarch, which will likely mean a bittersweet time ahead for them all.
Already at Balmoral, the royal couple were spotted at a church service last Sunday at Crathie Kirk – with the family reportedly set to follow suit later this week.
The King and Queen are believed to be staying at Birkhall, with the family set to join them in the coming days, as is custom among the royal summer holiday traditions.
Today, August 16, marks the final day that the public are able to view the grounds, following a decision made by the monarch to extend the summer opening hours.
This will likely mean the Royal Family’s summer plans will be underway very soon.
The late Queen Elizabeth II, who also carried out the tradition of spending summer at Balmoral, typically arrived at the Scotland-based residence in early August each year.
The late Queen’s granddaughter, Princess Eugenie, previously spoke out about the summer she spent with her beloved grandmother at Balmoral.
As part of the 2016 ITV documentary, ‘Our Queen at Ninety’, Eugenie said: “It’s the most beautiful place on earth.”
Speaking of the Queen’s love for the residence, Eugenie – who is Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter – added: “I think Granny is the most happy here, I think she really, really loves the Highlands… walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs!”
She added: “And people coming in and out all the time. Family-wise we’re all there, so it’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa to be – for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.”
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The Prince and Princess of Wales are set to lead tributes to the late Queen on the first anniversary of her death.
The late monarch typically stayed at Balmoral until October, meaning that the family will mark the anniversary at the very same place that she passed away.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, former royal butler Grant Harrold said that the visit to Balmoral will be one of “mixed emotions” for the King. The King is said to be marking the anniversary privately, with no plans for a public event or any private family gatherings.
