What Meghan Markle will be getting up to on her first visit to Balmoral this summer

The Duchess of Sussex is reported ot be heading to Balmoral for the first time. [Photo: Getty]
The Duchess of Sussex is reported ot be heading to Balmoral for the first time. [Photo: Getty]

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have had a busy summer, from countess royal engagements to overseas tours, the newlyweds are in some need of some well-deserved R&R.

Luckily for them, they’ll soon be escaping to the Queen’s picturesque holiday home in the Scottish Highlands: Balmoral Castle.

This summer, Her Majesty is spending quality time with the Duke of Edinburgh at the regal residence and is set to be joined by other members of the Windsor clan in the coming weeks.

It is rumoured that the Duchess of Sussex is making her inaugural visit to Balmoral, as according to People: “It is customary for royal family members during the summer holiday”.

Where is Balmoral and what does it look like?

Balmoral Castle is located in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, and the estate is surrounding by stunning mountains, lochs and glens.

The castle is open to the public until August, so during this time, the royals stay in the Queen’s seven-bedroom residence, Craigowan Lodge, on the estate.

When the doors close to the public, the Queen move into the ‘big house’ and spend the summer there until September, or sometimes even October.

We doubt the Duchess will be eager to head back to London after spending a week in these surroundings…

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have enjoyed countless summers at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. [Photo: Getty]
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have enjoyed countless summers at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. [Photo: Getty]

What will the Duchess be getting up to in Balmoral?

While no one can be certain how the royals spend their leisure time behind closed doors – a few games of Cluedo over a bottle of wine, perhaps? Jenga? Twister? –we do have some idea of the kind of activities Meghan will be joining in on.

“Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time. It’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there; where you just have room to breathe and run,” Princess Eugenie revealed during an appearance on ITV’s ‘Our Queen At Ninety.’

Picnics, games, brisk walks and home cinema nights are also said to be key pastimes of the royals while at Balmoral, according to Hello.

Prince Phillip has been known to grill sausages over a barbecue, while the Queen reportedly makes the salad and washes up the dishes.

Balmoral’s housekeeper Sheena Stuart previously revealed the Queen helps host gatherings by laying the table. “The Duke, he cooks, the Queen sets up the table,” she said on an episode of BBC1’s ‘Countryfile’. “There are no staff that come out to serve.”

Saying this, we’re certain Meghan and Harry won’t let Queenie lift a finger…

If Meghan and Harry time it right, they may even catch the Braemar Games, one of the Queen and Prince Phillip’s highlights of the summer.

The games (set on 1 September this year) are held at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, and each year, the monarch and her husband can be spotted giggling along as they watch the tug-of-war and sack races.

Meghan may even have the honour of accompanying the Queen to a Sunday church service; this year, her Majesty has already been spotted attending with her son Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Lady Louise Windsor.

Pack us in your suitcase please, Meghan? Balmoral sounds dreamy…

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From Charles and Camilla to Harry and Meghan: Where each member of the royal family lives

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From Balmoral Castle to Mustique: Where each member of the royal family spends the summer

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