Sunday 4 September 2022 03:58 PM Prince Charles arrives for traditional Sunday church service at Balmoral ... trends now
Prince Charles cut a lonely figure this morning as he was spotted at a traditional Sunday church service at Balmoral without the Queen she remained at home.
Her Majesty, who has been staying at in the Scottish highlands on her summer break since July, was not among the congregation at the weekly service at Crathie Kirk today.
The monarch, who has been a regular attendee at the small church while staying at the royal estate in previous year, has not been seen in public since travelling up to her summer retreat in July.
In recent weeks various members of the royal family have been seen making the short journey to the small church while staying at the royal estate.
These include Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor and Vice Admiral Sir Time Laurence, with Prince Charles spotted at today's service on his own.
However, the monarch, who has been a regular attendee in the past, has not been pictured attending any services at the venue since travelling up for her summer retreat in July.
In recent months the 96-year-old has cancelled a number of appointments due to concerns over her mobility and health.
This includes swearing in the new Prime Minister the Scottish castle this week in a break with tradition after deciding not to travel back down to London for the ceremony.
Prince Charles was pictured leaving traditional Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral this morning
The Queen has attended the service in the past, but has not been pictured since arriving at the royal estate on July 21 (pictured)
In previous years Her Majesty has been a keen attendee at the small church. Here she is pictured arriving at the church with Lady Louise Windsor in 2019
In the absence of Her Majesty, Charles has been stepping into her role - last week he attended the Braemer Gathering in her stead, raising more concerns about her health.
But insiders say she has stayed away to ensure she is in the best possible health to welcome her 15th Prime Minister at Balmoral on Tuesday.
It will be the first time the Queen has welcomed a new Prime Minister there – but the arrangement is ‘BP [Buckingham Palace] comes to Balmoral’, said an insider.
Despite mobility issues, the Queen is said to be adamant that she will not require Prince Charles to be part of the ceremony. It meant, however, that Her Majesty felt it more prudent to rest yesterday.
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson – stepping down after three years at No 10 – will travel to meet the Queen first. Then, the monarch will hold a private audience with the new Prime Minister in the drawing room at Balmoral. A picture, but no video footage, will be released.
And the next day, a ‘virtual’ meeting of the Privy Council is expected to take place over a video call. The new setting for the ‘kissing of the hands’ meeting was decided to save the 96-year-old monarch from having to make the 1,000-mile round trip to Buckingham Palace.
While the Queen has been resting Charles, who is known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay, represented his mother at the Highland Games.
At the Braemar Gathering on Friday, the Prince of Wales used a pair of garden shears to cut a heather rope and unveil a new £80,000 archway to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.
Charles and Camilla joined in a round of applause as host Robert Lovie said: ‘We miss her presence.’
Peter Fraser,
