King Charles has returned to Balmoral so that he could thank the soldiers who guarded over the late Queen at her favourite Scottish retreat, it is reported.
As members of the Royal Family were told to head to Balmoral due to the Queen’s deteriorating health, Charles was one of only two who managed to get there in time before she died on September 8.
Balmoral is believed to have been closed on Sunday so that the King could personally thank the soldiers who carefully guarded the Queen’s body before it was transported to London in scenes that were broadcast around the world.
The Queen spent her final months at Balmoral where she usually took her summer break.
Charles was driven to the castle in his electric Audi after a church service in Crathie Kirk.
“The King wanted to say thank you in person,” a courtier said, reported the Mail.
“He is very grateful for the effort everyone put in before and after Her Majesty's death.”
Balmoral’s grounds have been opened to the public until the end of the year so that people can pay their tributes to the late Queen - as normally they are closed from July to April.
The King may also be planning to open the estate all year round, having advertised for visitor service assistants to work for the 2022 season, reported the Mail.
It has been suggested that Charles is considering turning Balmoral into a museum in the Queen’s memory.
The 50,000-acre royal estate in Dee Valley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is worth an estimated £120million - while it costs £3 million a year to run and half this money comes from tourism.
The plan would also fit in with the King’s plan for a slimmed down monarchy.
A source speaking to the MailOnline said: "Looking at the number of properties and the number of working members of the Royal Family , the King will be looking at the properties and asking: 'What value does this give to the public?'."
Various personal artefacts and items of clothing worn by the monarchy at significant points in her 70-year reign could potentially feature in exhibits, with the possible inclusion of selected pieces from the royal jewellery collection also likely to draw visitors.
