Queen Elizabeth II Will Be Joined By Prince William And Princess Anne During Royal Tour Of Scotland

Jun 25, 2021

Next week, Queen Elizabeth will go on an official royal tour of Scotland. Royals have been doing official tours for over a century. In fact, one of the first photographs of a royal tour dates back to 1900, when Queen Victoria visited Dublin, Ireland. The tradition has been followed for generations, and as the royal family modernizes, royal tours serve as a way for the monarchy to present themselves to the rest of the world. From South Africa to Canada to New Zealand to India, royal tours are also often used to introduce new queens and kings to their subjects. For example, Queen Elizabeth II's 1954 tour has been regarded as one of the most ambitious royal tours of all time. With the intent of introducing the new queen, Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Bermuda, Jamaica, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Tonga, among other countries, during a six-month trip. 

Now that the queen's beloved husband, Prince Philip, has passed away, she will no longer be accompanied by him on royal tours. However, the queen will most certainly not go alone. For her royal tour of Scotland next week, the queen will be joined by her daughter the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, and her grandson the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William. The four-day visit will mark Royal Week, and the queen will engage in various activities celebrating Scottish history, community, and innovation.

Read on to learn more about the details of the tour, and which days the queen will be accompanied by Princess Anne, and which days she will be joined by Prince William.

Royal Week is not the only time that the queen visits Scotland. In fact, the queen usually spends her summer at Balmoral Castle with her family members. Located in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire in Scotland, the British royal family has been spending their summer holidays at Balmoral Castle for over 100 years. First purchased in 1852 by Prince Albert as a gift for Queen Victoria, the residence has been beloved by the royal family ever since.

Queen Elizabeth II usually begins her stay at Balmoral in Craigowan Lodge, a seven-bedroom property on the premises, as the rest of the castle is still open to the public. Then in August, she moves into the main house. 

However, because it is Royal Week — known as Holyrood Week to others — the queen will not be staying at Balmoral Castle but rather at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. According to the official Royal Family website, the visit is marked with many visits and official royal ceremonies. First, the queen is welcomed into the city of Edinburgh by the Lord Provost. The Lord Provost offers the queen the city's keys in a ceremony known as the Ceremony of the Keys. 

Queen Elizabeth will be joined by Prince William — or as he's known in Scotland: the Earl of Strathearn — on the first day of her visit on June 28. Princess Anne will then accompany her mother for the royal outings on Wednesday, June 30, and Thursday, July 1. Queen Elizabeth will visit businesses, cultural institutions, and charities in places such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling. 

The various visits will center around highlighting the pioneering work that Scotland is doing in regards to education, technology, combatting climate change, and furthering community engagement. The tour is typically an annual visit for the queen, as she traditionally does a series of public engagements in Scotland around the end of June or the beginning of July. 

However, due to government guidelines and restrictions last year, the queen did not travel to Scotland for Royal Week. This year, the large-scale events that normally are hosted at the queen's residence will not take place, including the annual Garden Party. Under normal circumstances, Garden Party typically welcomes 8,000 people from all areas of Scottish life to spend an afternoon with the queen on palace grounds. Traditionally, the party features live music from regimental bands and The Royal Scottish Pipers Society. 

The Holyrood Week also sometimes includes what's known as the Thistle Service at St. Giles' Cathedral, but this year it has yet to be announced. Despite Prince Philip's passing in April of this year, the queen is continuing on with her royal duties, but luckily she has her grandson and daughter by her side. The queen's soft diplomacy will hopefully once again reinforce ties between Great Britain and Scotland. The trip comes not long after the queen attended the Royal Ascot that occurred from June 15, 2021, until June 19, 2021. Although Prince William did not attend that event, Princess Anne did show off her fashion sense at the Royal Ascot. The queen and her daughter looked radiant in the stylish outfits that included lavish headpieces. We're sure all three will look just as dashing in Scotland as well.

What do you think about the queen going to Scotland with Princess Anne and Prince William? Isn't it nice that she won't have to go alone? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this on to other royal fans you know!