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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Rebecca Russell & John-Paul Clark

King Charles plans to continue Queen's legacy of holidaying in Scotland and 'important' Balmoral traditions

King Charles and Queen Camilla are thought to be ready to spend part of their summers on Scotland's Balmoral, like Queen Elizabeth before them.

The Balmoral Estate, located in Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, near the village of Crathie, was important to the late Queen and is made up of several properties, including Birkhall, Craigowan Lodge and Tam Na Ghar, reports Aberdeen Live.

And the renowned estate looks set to continue to play a big part in the reigning monarch's life, with Charles set to carry on an "important" tradition of his mother's, even if he is not able to holiday there as often as she did.

A friend told Vanity Fair: "The house was always full of guests coming and going and Charles will be continuing that tradition. That is very important to him."

Former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond has questioned whether the busy King has as much time on his hands as his late mother to enjoy an "extended break" on the estate.

Speaking to OK!, Jennie said: "Charles and Camilla's preference will always be to stay at Birkhall, which they have very much made their own and love it because it belonged to the Queen Mother. But if the family do join them for part of the summer some of them at least will obviously have to stay in the castle.

"I think Charles has already shown that he wants to continue the tradition of gathering the family together at least once or twice a year. But he is a busy man, and much busier now that he is Monarch.

"So I do not think that he will be having the extended summer stay at Balmoral that the Queen so enjoyed. He does love it up in Scotland and I think it does his soul good to walk on the moors and have at least some time away from public duties."

Jennie added: "I'm not sure that William and Catherine are quite so keen on a prolonged stay in Scotland, even though as a family they love the big outdoors. Balmoral does offer them all a haven which is full of memories, both good and bad, including learning of Diana's death and rushing up there for Queen Elizabeth's death.

"It will be a poignant time for them to return to the Castle and possibly gather there to mark the first anniversary of the Queen's death in September."

Balmoral was bought from the Farquharson family by Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert in 1852 and is still privately owned as it was purchased using personal funds. Therefore, revenue does not go to Parliament or the public purse.

Queen Elizabeth's love of the estate was well-documented, with her granddaughter Princess Eugenie explaining: "It's the most beautiful place on earth. I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands."

Speaking to ITV for the documentary 'Our Queen At Ninety', she added: "Walks, picnics, dogs - a lot of dogs, there's always dogs - and people coming in and out all the time. It's a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there; where you just have room to breathe and run."

Prince William has spoken of a time that the late Queen was very angry at him and his cousin, Peter Phillips. Speaking during the documentary 'The Queen at 90', Prince William explained: "[Peter Phillips and I] were chasing Zara around who was on a go-cart, and [we] managed to herd Zara into a lamppost and the lamppost came down and nearly squashed her.

"And I remember my grandmother being the first person out at Balmoral to come running across the lawn in her kilt. She came charging over and gave us the most almighty telling off, and that sort of stuck in my mind from that moment on."

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