The Royal Family are preparing to retreat to Scotland for their annual summer break, with Balmoral set to once again become the centre of royal life in the coming weeks.
The Aberdeenshire estate has been a much-loved summer destination for generations of royals, with the late Queen Elizabeth II helping to cement the tradition during her reign.
Members of the family are expected to spend time at the sprawling estate throughout August, taking advantage of its vast grounds and the privacy it offers away from the pressures of royal life.
The annual break gives the royals the chance to spend time together before their busy schedules resume in September, The Mirror reported.
Charles's kilt tradition
But while Balmoral is synonymous with family time and outdoor pursuits, there is another Scottish tradition closely associated with the King.
Charles has regularly embraced the kilt during his time north of the border, wearing a variety of tartans for public engagements, ceremonies and Highland events.
The monarch was recently seen meeting members of the public in Dingwall while wearing a traditional kilt featuring a green, blue and red tartan pattern, along with a sporran.
Just days earlier, he attended the Mey Highland Games in Caithness wearing a kilt in the distinctive Balmoral royal tartan.
There is no formal requirement for members of the Royal Family to wear a kilt while in Scotland, but Charles has consistently chosen to embrace the traditional dress.
William's choice
His approach appears to differ from that of his eldest son, Prince William.
The Prince of Wales has rarely, if ever, been seen wearing a kilt during his adult public engagements.
In fact, some of the last widely seen images of William in the traditional garment date back to his childhood, when he was photographed alongside his younger brother, Prince Harry, for official family portraits.
William has never publicly explained why he appears reluctant to wear a kilt, despite his strong connections to Scotland.
The future King holds the Scottish titles of Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles and spent several years living in the country while studying at the University of St Andrews.
Even for his university graduation, William chose not to wear a kilt.
The Prince's decision is particularly notable given the Royal Family's long association with the traditional Scottish garment.
The royals even have their own tartan, known as the Balmoral tartan.
The distinctive grey, black and red design was created by Prince Albert in 1857 and has become closely associated with the family and their Scottish home.
Balmoral break ahead
While William may not be expected to revive the royal kilt tradition this summer, he and the Princess of Wales are expected to make their annual trip to Balmoral with their three children.
The family visit is expected to take place before Prince George begins his secondary education at Eton College in September, marking another major change for the Wales family.
Royal expert Jennie Bond believes the Scottish estate will provide the perfect setting for the family to unwind before what is expected to be another demanding period for the royals.
Speaking to the Mirror, the former BBC royal correspondent said Balmoral's remote setting and dramatic landscape give the family an opportunity to escape the pressures of their public lives.
She said: “The summer stay up there has always been a time primarily for William, Catherine and the rest of the family to gather in the peace of the Scottish countryside after the busyness and noise of their working lives in London and elsewhere.
“It’s a ‘breathe, relax and be still’ kind of place, and that’s what they all love about it. Its beauty is undeniable, but the castle really is quite remote, and it’s the sort of place where you have to make your own fun.
“That, however, is something that generations of the Royal Family seem very well equipped to do. They walk and romp, play games and ride, and fish and shoot (when in season) - it’s part of Balmoral life.
“The Balmoral holiday is an important tradition for the family when quite a lot of them can spend time together away from work, away from the cameras and very seriously off-duty.
“Generation after generation seem to have fallen under the spell of the castle and its grounds.”
