As summer approaches, royal watchers are once again looking ahead to one of the most established traditions in the Royal Family’s calendar – King Charles III’s annual stay at Balmoral Castle.
While Buckingham Palace does not announce the exact date of the King’s arrival in advance, the monarch typically travels to the Aberdeenshire estate in mid to late August, shortly after official engagements wind down for the summer.
Last year, King Charles officially began his summer residence at Balmoral on 18 August, when he was welcomed by a traditional military ceremony at the castle gates.
The King inspected a Guard of Honour from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, before meeting the regiment’s famous Shetland pony mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV. Pipes and drums from across the regiment also performed as the monarch marked the start of his annual stay.
As Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, King Charles wore his Coronation tartan, specially designed to commemorate his accession to the throne in 2023. Following the ceremony, he greeted well-wishers and tourists who had gathered outside the estate.
The day before the formal welcome, the King and Queen Camilla attended a Sunday service at nearby Crathie Kirk, a church long associated with the Royal Family’s stays at Balmoral.
Balmoral has served as the Royal Family’s Scottish home since it was purchased for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852. Today, it remains one of the King’s favourite residences, providing an opportunity to spend time in the Highlands away from the pressures of official duties.
Although often described as the Royal Family’s “summer holiday”, the King’s time at Balmoral is not entirely one of relaxation. During his stay, he continues to receive government papers, hold audiences with the Prime Minister when required, and carry out a limited number of official engagements.
Members of the Royal Family frequently join the King and Queen during the late summer and early autumn, with children and grandchildren often visiting before schools return after the holidays.
For 2026, a similar timetable is expected, meaning King Charles is likely to arrive at Balmoral around the middle or latter part of August, although the precise date will only become clear once the Palace confirms his engagements or the traditional arrival ceremony takes place.
