King Charles continues late Queen’s summer tradition at private Scottish retreat
The royal family has begun their annual summer holiday at Balmoral, the estate long regarded as their most private retreat. King Charles and Queen Camilla have already arrived, with the King donning a kilt as he inspected a guard of honour — and even greeted a Shetland pony — at the castle gates.
What drew attention this week, however, was the arrival of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. The pair have travelled to Aberdeenshire for the family gathering but, according to royal expert Jennie Bond, their stay is expected to be carefully managed.
It is believed Andrew and Sarah have been given Craigowan Lodge, a property on the estate favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Bond told The Mirror: “Charles is fond of his nieces, Beatrice and Eugenie, and he wouldn’t want to deprive them of special family time with their parents. Nothing is ever going to change the fact that Andrew is his brother.”
At the same time, visits to Balmoral are said to be tightly coordinated to avoid tension. Bond added: “I expect that Andrew’s stay will not coincide with William and Catherine.”
The gathering continues the late Queen’s long-standing tradition of uniting the family each summer in the Scottish Highlands — though, as this year shows, not without careful planning behind the scenes.
