Last year's Court Circular for August had the Queen attending Divine Service at Crathie Church on three occasions, formally farewelling one equerry and formally being welcomed to Balmoral. The Court Circular also announced that she had made a new appointment.
5 engagements and one formal announcement in a month.
This year she has also attened Divine Service once so far and been received at Balmoral - so in half the month she has had 2 engagements and much the same ones as last year - church and formally being received at Balmoral.
Even in September last year she only did two things according to the Court Circular - attended Church and farewelled the Scottish First Minister when they left Balmoral.
So officially she does seem to be doing much the same as past years - having a holiday.
When we usually see her is at the Braemar Games and that isn't for a few more weeks.
Thanks, Bertie, for proving me wrong! About every third older person I encounter has either just had knee replacement, or is thinking about it, so I keep thinking of HM's poor knees. Maybe she will only need a repeat of the cartilage op she had several years ago.