King Charles III
That changes this year on Balmoral
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The first summer without the Queen: This year the Balmoral holidays of the royals are a little different than in previous decades.
King Charles III, 74, and the British royal family are looking forward to an emotional start to the traditional summer vacation. Because it will be the first summer at Balmoral Castle without the presence of Queen Elizabeth II. The late monarch enjoyed her beloved summer holidays there every year. While Charles and Camilla, 76, will also soon be heading to Scotland, their first summer holiday as King and Queen will be a little different than it has been for decades.
Balmoral Castle without a king this summer
As British nobility expert Rebecca English wrote in an article for the Daily Mail reports, King Charles and Camilla will not be staying at Balmoral Castle for the summer holidays. Instead, the royal couple moves into Birkhall – a property that is also located on the Balmoral site. Charles inherited Birkhall from his grandmother Queen Mum in 2002. English said he put his heart and soul into making the home a place where he and Camilla could feel at home.
The two had already spent a lot of time in Birkhall during the pandemic – working, reading and going for walks. For Charles, the property is a “very special place”. Birkhall will serve as his and his wife’s headquarters until early fall. Accordingly, he will be in Birkhall from the beginning of August to the beginning of October and will come and go depending on what commitments are pending.
At the same time, this means that for the first time since the 19th century, Balmoral Castle has to do without a resident monarch over the summer. King Charles will only use the main palace for official visits this summer. Among others, the monarch is expecting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 43.
Balmoral Castle will also remain open to the public until August 16th. Various events such as a movie night or barbecues are to be planned in order to earn money with these events.
These royals are spending their summer break in Scotland
According to Rebecca English, however, the castle will not remain completely empty for the remainder of the summer holidays. Other members of the British royal family are said to be staying there over the next few weeks. According to the royal expert, these include Prince William, 41, Princess Kate, 41, and their children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
King Charles’ siblings are also expected at Balmoral: Prince Edward, 59, and his wife Duchess Sophie, 58, with their children Louise, 19, and James, 14, Princess Anne, 72, and her husband Timothy Laurence, 68, and Annes Children Peter Philips, 45, and Zara Tindall, 42, and their families. The disgraced Prince Andrew, 63, and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 63, are said to have received an invitation to spend a summer break at Balmoral Castle. Princess Eugenie, 33, and Princess Beatrice, 34, and their families are also expected.
Emotional anniversary for King Charles
For King Charles, the time on Balmoral also marks the first anniversary of his accession to the throne. Queen Elizabeth II died last year on September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle. In honor of his mother, Charles has a tradition to keep alive: the Ghillies Ball, a night of dancing that marks the end of the annual Balmoral holiday.