Kate Middleton & Prince William Join King Charles at Balmoral — One Detail Has Royal Fans Talking
Amid the news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the U.K., Prince William and Kate Middleton have arrived at Balmoral Castle for a traditional royal family gathering.
One day after it was revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s family are relocating to his homeland, Hello! reported that Prince William and Princess Kate, both 45, arrived at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with their three children: Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8.
The British royal family congregates at the estate in the Scottish Highlands in the late summer, with the Prince and Princess of Wales regularly spending time there before the children head back to school, including George starting at Eton College.
King Charles was officially welcomed to the royal residence with a ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Some of the monarch’s relatives were already at Balmoral and walked down to watch the welcome ceremony wearing casual clothes, as seen in photos shared on social media. The group included Princess Anne’s children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, with their families.
Balmoral Castle
Credit: Robert Plattner/Oneworld Picture/Universal Images Group via Getty
Balmoral has been the British royal family’s go-to spot during the summer ever since the reign of Queen Victoria, whose husband, Prince Albert, purchased the property in 1852. Just as Prince William did growing up, his three children will likely splash in the River Dee while exploring the outdoors at the expansive rural estate, where days are filled with activities like hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
“It was a life of picnics and paddling around,” Margaret Rhodes, Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, once said.
Following the death of Prince Philip in April 2021, Princess Kate and Prince William shared previously unseen photos taken throughout the years at Balmoral, including a sweet shot of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip surrounded by their great-grandchildren. Another picture was a 2015 shot featuring the Queen and Prince Philip posing with Kate, William, Prince George and a baby Princess Charlotte at the Scottish estate.
Prince William and Princess Kate’s arrival at Balmoral came shortly after news broke that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, are returning to the U.K. for an extended period beginning this month. Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are expected to start school in Britain come September.
The couple will maintain their home in Montecito, California, and their vacation property in Portugal while establishing a private, non-royal home base in Britain. The location of the family’s new home and the children’s school are being closely guarded.
King Charles was made aware of the couple’s plans on Sunday, August 16, PEOPLE understands, and welcomes the opportunity to see more of the family in a private and personal capacity.
The move comes just weeks after Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. with Archie and Lilibet for a successful summer visit that included the children’s first reunion with their grandfather in more than four years.
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While Prince Harry grew up going to Balmoral, it’s believed that Meghan has never visited the royal family’s Scottish castle, where Queen Elizabeth died in 2022.
Queen Elizabeth traditionally retreated to the home every August, welcoming her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other guests to spend time outdoors, play games and relax.
“She deserved that time,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith previously told PEOPLE. “Balmoral has always been a place of rejuvenation and reflection. She has been going there since she was a baby. It’s where Prince Philip proposed and where she had her honeymoon. It’s a place bursting with memories.”
Although it’s a vacation, there was still some work for the late monarch while away in the Scottish Highlands. She continued to work, reading her diplomatic papers in the famous “red boxes” delivered daily. She also normally continued to hold audiences and undertake some public engagements.
