The King and Queen traditionally spend their summer break at Balmoral in August, welcoming new guests to their Scottish residence. Following in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles extends an invitation to the Prime Minister to join him at his Aberdeenshire retreat. After the recent UK general election, Labour leader Keir Starmer was officially appointed as the new Prime Minister by the King during an audience at Buckingham Palace. It is expected that Keir and his wife, Victoria, will be invited to Balmoral by the King during the Parliament summer recess.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, had the honor of joining the King and Queen at Crathie Kirk church during their first and only stay at Balmoral last summer. The royal couple is often accompanied by members of their family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. Even former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his family visited the late Queen at Balmoral in 2021, with Boris expressing admiration for Queen Elizabeth II’s alertness and concentration during their meeting before his resignation in 2022.
At Balmoral, guests experience royal hospitality with meticulous attention to detail. Visitors have their luggage painstakingly unpacked by aides upon arrival. Former Prime Minister Cherie Blair shared a humorous anecdote in her autobiography about forgetting her contraception at home before a weekend stay at Balmoral with her husband, ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair. She described the embarrassing situation of having all her personal belongings unpacked during a previous visit to the royal residence.
In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, former Prime Minister Theresa May reflected on her time at Balmoral and shared a lighthearted anecdote to pay tribute to the late monarch. The royal summer retreat at Balmoral holds a special place in the hearts of those privileged to be invited by the King and Queen, showcasing a tradition of warmth, hospitality, and royal legacy.
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