King Charles and Queen Camilla have officially begun their summer holiday at Balmoral Castle after a formal welcome ceremony this morning. The King inspected a Guard of Honour, observed a pipes and drums performance, greeted the Regiment's mascot, and undertook a walkabout to meet locals and tourists.
Summer Residency at Balmoral
The ceremony marked the start of Charles's summer residency at the Aberdeenshire castle, though he has been in Scotland for several weeks and attended a private church service at Crathie Kirk on Sunday. The King and Queen are expected to stay at the Royal Deeside estate until the end of September.
August and September provide time for the couple to rest and reset at the rural retreat, ready to resume royal duties from October and prepare for a tour including Antigua and Barbuda in early November.
Royal Duties Continue
Despite the holiday, the King has continued engagements in Scotland, including attending the Castle of Mey Games, meeting the Assynt Mountain Rescue team, and engaging with communities in Halkirk and Castletown, where he opened a distillery in a restored mill. He also continues to handle state business, reading Government red boxes and holding official meetings.
The public can expect to see him at the Braemar Gathering in September and at private church services at Crathie Kirk on Sundays.
Family and Guests
Highlights of the stay include the annual Ghillies Ball, picnics, long walks, painting, and hosting family and friends. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal with her husband Sir Tim are expected to visit. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife will also be invited for a weekend, as is traditional for the monarch to host the PM during the summer recess.
Lord Lichfield, a former photographer for the family, noted that the royals “act as normal people, to a point,” with lunch always outdoors and daily expeditions.
The King enjoys long walks, often alone, and fishing on the River Dee, though he no longer has time for painting as he did in his youth. He prefers using downtime for hikes.
Earlier this year, the King described Balmoral as a “cherished home” with a “startling individuality” and a “precious, almost sacred, surrounding landscape,” writing in a guidebook's foreword that it holds a “uniquely special place” in the Royal Family's affections. It was the late Queen's beloved home and where she spent her final days.
