BACK AT HER ‘HAPPY PLACE’ THE QUEEN JOINED BY FAMILY AS THEIR SUMMER BREAK GETS UNDER WAY AT BALMORAL
She beamed as she was formally welcomed to her private home north of the border
It is a tradition she has honoured for her entire life, but as she took up residence inside Balmoral Castle last week, the Queen marked the start of a new era.
It is her first summer at her idyllic Scottish retreat since the death of her beloved husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh.
As she welcomes her family for their annual holiday there, with all the traditional picnics, barbecues and walks he was so fond of, his absence will be keenly felt.
But it is also a chance for the monarch and her loved ones to enjoy the relaxed gathering properly for the first time since 2019
