King Charles Kicks Off His Summer Vacation in Scotland in Style

Every summer, members of the British royal family relocates to Scotland.

Queen Elizabeth would typically spend weeks at Balmoral Castle, and it was where she spent her final days before she passed away in September 2022. “I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands,” her granddaughter Princess Eugenie once said. “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.”

Last summer, King Charles followed his late mother’s tradition, but didn’t spend as long at Balmoral. Instead, he began August at Castle of Mey, in Caithness, and arrived at Balmoral on August 21. He will likely do something similar this summer; the Express reports he will spend the next 10 days at the Castle of Mey before heading to Balmoral. The Castle of Mey, which is normally open to the public, is closed through August 8, likely corresponding to King Charles’s stay.

In the spring, King Charles allowed Balmoral to be open to the public for the first time, and tours run through August 4.

King Charles kicked off his Scottish summer yesterday, visiting Flow Country, with is described as “a vast peat bog that covers much of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland.” The area was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Charles unveiled a new plaque commemorating its status:

During his visit, King Charles spoke to staff from the Highland Council, NatureScot, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and other local organizations that are involved in caring for Flow Country. For the occasion, he donned a kilt—long a go-to part of his Scottish wardrobe.

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