King Charles and Queen Camilla Paker-Bowles have deviated from tradition by choosing to spend the post-Christmas period at Balmoral instead of their usual Sandringham residence. Typically, the monarchs remain at Sandringham during this time, but the royal couple decided to head to Scotland. However, it seems that King Charles will return to England for his upcoming prostate surgery, as he has already made his way back to Norfolk.
While King Charles and Queen Camilla make their way back to England, Balmoral is getting ready to welcome visitors. The official Instagram account of the estate shared a breathtaking photo of the castle grounds covered in a light dusting of snow. In the caption, they invited people to escape the noise and visit Balmoral over the weekend. They even suggested visitors warm up with a hot drink from their mews café. However, it’s important to note that during this period, there will be no audio tours, mobility scooters, or access to the ballroom. The castle grounds, café, and gift shop will be open from 10am to 4pm, and paid parking is available nearby. For a complete opening schedule in January and February, interested individuals can visit the estate’s website.
Last weekend, the royal couple kept a low profile. However, the previous Sunday, they made a public appearance by attending church at Crathie Kirk, close to Balmoral. They had to bundle up as it was clearly chilly, with a light coating of snow on the ground. The King himself drove the car, and both he and the Queen appeared to be in good spirits as they chatted and smiled during their outing.
A Departure from Tradition
Queen Elizabeth II usually stays at Sandringham from just before Christmas until early February to commemorate the anniversary of her father’s death. It was initially believed that King Charles and Queen Camilla would spend several weeks at their Birkhall home on the Balmoral estate, as it is one of their favorite residences. However, Buckingham Palace recently announced that the King will be undergoing surgery for an enlarged prostate, causing him to leave Scotland.
Due to King Charles’ impending surgery, his scheduled engagements at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire have been postponed. These engagements were intended to include a dinner and meetings related to his King’s Foundation charity. The King’s decision to share his diagnosis was met with praise from men’s health charities, as it encourages other men experiencing symptoms to seek medical attention. While the King is away, Queen Camilla expressed that he is “fine” and eagerly looking forward to returning to work. The announcement about Charles’ surgery came just 90 minutes after Kensington Palace confirmed that Princess Diana is recovering from abdominal surgery at The London Clinic.
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