Article in the Sunday Times about where the Queen wants to live when and if Prince Philip dies before her.
Balmoral beckons for the Queen’s final years | The Sunday Times
Summary:
Balmoral beckons for the Queen’s final years
Roya Nikkhah Published: 27 September 2015
IT IS the place she is said to feel most at home, a refuge from the demands of being the reigning monarch. Now it has emerged that Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire may become the Queen’s second home in the future.
The Queen, who will be 90 next year, is understood to have expressed her desire to spend considerably more time at her retreat in the Scottish Highlands in the event of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death.
She currently spends her two-month summer break at Balmoral with her family every year. But it is believed that plans have been explored for her to split her time between there and Buckingham Palace if and when she is on her own.
There is no suggestion that this is imminent....However distant a prospect it may be, plans for what the Queen will do when he is no longer there are being actively, if discreetly, discussed.
However distant a prospect it may be, plans for what the Queen will do when he is no longer there are being actively, if discreetly, discussed.
Although the expectation is that she would spend a lot more time at Balmoral and have fewer official engagements, the Queen would continue to act as head of state.
A source said: “There is a feeling that if the Duke of Edinburgh passed away her preference would be to spend more time in Scotland. The discussion has been that if he goes before her, that would be her wish.
“She loves Scotland, it has always been a great comfort to her, where she is happiest and most relaxed.
“She’s a different person up there. At Balmoral she feels she doesn’t have to be a caricature of a queen. Everyone will play it by ear but the feeling is the Scottish plan will be what she wants to do.”
The Queen is believed to feel that “location is immaterial” and that she can function just as effectively as a monarch at Balmoral as she does at Buckingham Palace.
Investitures at Buckingham Palace are increasingly carried out by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal.
Prince Charles has also significantly increased his official overseas visits as the Queen and the duke no longer travel long-haul.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.
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