The little church loved by the Royal Family has just welcomed William and Kate

The Royal Family has been seen out in force attending Sunday service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral as they settle into their late summer stay at their Scottish estate.

While staying on the estate, the Monarch often attends service at Crathie Kirk, the local parish church. The small chapel has a very heartfelt connection to the current King and Queen. But its royal history is far longer.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert discover the little church

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first began attending the small Church of Scotland church in the late 1840s after they had purchased the Balmoral estate. Every monarch since has spent their summers at Balmoral with visits from many family members, with many attending service at the small church. 

Queen Elizabeth II frequently visited Crathie Kirk during her long stays at Balmoral. She was at Balmoral when she passed away on 8 September 2022 at the age of 96. 

On 10 September 2022, Crathie Kirk hosted a private service for the members of the Royal Family at Balmoral – a fitting tribute to the late Queen. 

The small parish church does hold happier memories for the Royal Family, too, though. 

A setting for a romantic royal wedding

On 12 December 1992, the Princess Royal married her second husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, at Crathie Kirk. 

Because the Church of England did not allow remarriage after divorce if the former spouse was still alive, the Church of Scotland was an obvious choice. Although it was a small wedding, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were among the 30 guests. 

The church has welcomed the Royal Family on many important occasions as well as for Sunday services.

The latest Royal Family gathering at Crathie Kirk

As the Scottish get together got under way in 2025, King Charles and Queen Camilla were seen driving to Crathie Kirk where a guard of honour from the Balaklava regiment was waiting to greet them.

The Prince and Princess of Wales joined The King and Queen for the service, arriving by car with their three children. Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven year old Prince Louis looked happy and excited as they were photographed on their way to the church.

The Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Tim Laurance, also joined the royal party. There was no sighting of Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, who is reported to be at Balmoral with his fiancee, Harriet Sperling, who is visiting for the first time. Netflix’s The Crown made ‘The Balmoral Test’ a well known thing, citing it as a time when soon to be members of the family are given an idea of what they are marrying into.

Times have changed and Harriet Sperling has already been warmly welcomed by the Royal Family. She took part in the carriage procession at Royal Ascot earlier this summer and also sat in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on the same day that Queen Camilla visited the Championships this year.

The latest royal gathering at Crathie Kirk also included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Edward and Sophie are taking a few days to relax before a busy autumn diary. The King has asked them to make an important visit to Japan on his behalf. They will be there while King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales host the US President, Donald Trump, at Windsor Castle as he makes an historic second State Visit to the UK.