Despite reports on Tuesday that Her Majesty The Queen’s annual Summer trip to Balmoral looked set to be cancelled, it has been reported that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will travel to the Aberdeenshire castle on or around 1st August. It was feared that differing Coronavirus guidelines in Scotland and England would result in the annual trip being cancelled.
Royal sources told The Sun that The Queen and Prince Philip will leave Windsor Castle around 1st August and fly to Balmoral where they are expected to stay for at least three months. It is thought the Coronavirus shielding restrictions will be lifted around this time.
The source commented to The Sun, “Preparations are well under way. Everything will be checked and double-checked to ensure there is no risk.” It was also mentioned that preparations had been stepped up recently owing to Scotland’s decrease in recorded daily Coronavirus deaths.
Since the beginning of her reign in 1952, Her Majesty The Queen has spent 12 weeks at Balmoral every Summer. Various members of The Royal Family tend to visit The Queen and Prince Philip each year at Balmoral with the Prime Minister of the day making a special trip to the Scottish castle. It is unknown at this point whether Boris Johnson will carry out this tradition this year under the current circumstances.
The Queen and Prince Philip have been isolating at Windsor Castle since 19th March, one week before the United Kingdom went in to full lockdown. The royal pair have been looked after by a reduced team of staff known as ‘HMS Bubble’ and include chefs, cleaners and various officials.
It is reported that Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh could remain at Balmoral for at least three months meaning that if The Queen did return to public duties this year, it would not be until November at the earliest.
Photo: Chatham House
I’m available to visit with the Queen and the Duke! 💕