In a world where millions obsess over members of the Royal Family, in one picturesque UK village they are simply treated as equals.
In Ballater, close to the Balmoral estate in the north of Scotland, a number of high profile royals have been spotted, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton.
The stunning village is located just a 10-minute drive from Balmoral Castle, where the Royal Family holiday every summer. Princess Eugenie once described it as “the most beautiful place in the world” and it's easy to see why, Daily Express reports.
While at the 50,000-acre summer residence, those taking time away from royal duties often make the short trip to Ballater, where their privacy is respected by residents, who view them as one of them.
David Cobban, who has lived in Ballater all his life, runs the Brakeley Gift Room shop with his wife Wendy and has met King Charles on a number of occasions.
He told Express.co.uk: “To us, they’re just members of our community, and I know that sounds odd, but they’re neighbours to a lot of people who have known them for generations. Charles has been coming here since he was a baby so he knows about the local area as well as lots of people.”
In fact, King Charles visited the village shortly after his Coronation, with him and Camilla spotted leaving Crathie Kirk Church following a service.
Mr Cobban revealed that the village is a "private" place and royals are often left to walk around as they please, enjoying the “unique freedom” they are afforded while there.
"We all have a healthy respect for the fact that they hold Balmoral with a great deal of affection, we recognise that and hopefully we provide them with an environment they can enjoy themselves," he said.
“Kate does come down to the village from time to time. I think it's nice that they feel that they can do that," the businessman added.
“I know that, certainly when I’ve seen them out and about in the village, nobody bothers them, they have their privacy and people respect that they’re there on holiday, they just go about their business so they have normality.”
Ballater's connection with the Royal Family dates back to the time of Queen Victoria and after the death of Queen Elizabeth in September last year, her coffin passed through the village where some of the 1,400 residents came out to pay their respects.
Alistair Cassie, owner of the A Cassie hardware shop, explained some royals manage to keep their presence lowkey.
The 79-year-old said: “Occasionally, you would see them passing through but there’s so much security these days — you could be a tourist in Ballater, the King could drive through, and you wouldn’t notice them…They keep to themselves quite a bit.”
Before the late Queen's death, she would often visit Balmoral from mid to the end of July until early October, and other royals would often join her.
This year, however, the King is set to spend less time on the estate as it is remaining open to the public until August. According to Mr Cobban, King Charles continues to take a "huge interest" in the estate.
“Wherever he is, I’m very certain that he remains in full contact with the people who work there as he takes a huge interest in the gardens and the grounds of the estate," he said. "Just because he isn’t up here physically as he might have been, I would reckon he’s as involved as he ever was.
“I would feel for them [if they are not spending as much time at Balmoral] because it was a great place for them to come and relax… They would miss that greatly, I would have thought.”
