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British Royals

The Royal Family pack out Crathie Kirk near Balmoral as they gather for traditional summer break that has new meaning

The little church at Crathie, near Balmoral, that the Royal Family attend while at their Scottish residence

The Royal Family were out in force for Sunday service at Balmoral after a tumultuous week.

Just days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they were heading to the UK for a long term stay, King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by many familv members as they enjoyed their annual holiday at the Scottish estate.

The King and Queen were seen driving to Crathie Kirk, near the royal residence, with most of their family in tow.

The Prince of Wales drove his wife and children to the church. The Princess of Wales, in a high neck white blouse and beige jackets, smiled broadly as photographers spotted the family arriving. The couple’s children were with them with Prince George and Princess Charlotte visible as they all made their way to church by car.

Sir TIm Laurence was at the wheel of another vehicle in the royal convoy. His wife, the Princess Royal, was in the passenger seat while her brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, sat in the back. The Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor were also with them.

The wider family is also at Balmoral right now with Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, and his new wife, Harriet, among the party. His daughers, Savanna and Isla Phillips, are also there along with Harriet’s daughter, Georgina.

Meanwhile, Peter’s sister, Zara Tindall, has travelled to Balmoral with her husband, Mike, and their three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas.

The King was given his official welcome to Balmoral earlier this week, just as news broke that his younger son is returning to the UK. Prince Harry and Meghan announced they plan to return to the country they left in 2020. Their plans will see them arrive before the end of August as their two children, Archie and Lilibet, are set to start a new school in the country in September.

It’s understood The King was informed of the decision to come back last Sunday and not in July when the Duke of Sussex was hosted for afternoon tea at Highgrove House with his wife and children.

The latest reports claims that Harry and Meghan only decided to make the move back to the UK when their children were confirmed to have been accepted at the school their parents had applied to.

Other reports that Meghan was coming back as she had been offered a role in a Netflix series from Guy Ritchie, The Gentleman, have now been talked down.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will live in a non royal residence and will not be working members of the Royal Family. There will also be no half in half out arrangement, the lifestyle mooted when they first announced they were stepping back as senior royals in 2020.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.