Queen Camilla Enjoys Family Shopping Trip in Scotland as Royal Balmoral Summer Holiday Begins

Queen Camilla kicked off the British royal family’s traditional late-summer retreat in the Scottish Highlands by taking her family on a relaxed shopping excursion in a nearby village.

A Casual Outing in Ballater

A day before King Charles officially commenced the seasonal residence by inspecting the troops of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at Balmoral Castle, Queen Camilla, 79, ventured into the nearby town of Ballater—located about eight miles from the estate.

Dressed casually in sweaters, coats, and jeans, the Queen was joined by her sister, Annabel Elliot; her daughter, Laura Lopes, 48; and her 18-year-old granddaughter, Eliza. The group spent time browsing local establishments, including a bookstore and a boutique specializing in Scottish cashmere, while teenage twin grandsons Gus and Harry Lopes, 16, briefly joined before heading back to the vehicle.

Annual Highland Tradition

The trip marks the official start of the royal family’s private summer getaway at Balmoral, a cherished tradition dating back to Queen Victoria’s reign in the 19th century. King Charles has continued the legacy of spending late summer and early autumn on the 50,000-acre Aberdeenshire estate, where other senior members of the family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, typically visit over the coming weeks.

Despite the restful retreat, the royals maintain a mix of private family time and intermittent official engagements, with Queen Camilla scheduled to attend the Ebor Festival at the York Racecourse as its patron.