The Queen Journeys To Balmoral For First Summer Holiday Without Prince Philip

Jul 26, 2021

Queen Elizabeth has left her usual home, Windsor Castle, and headed for Balmoral in Scotland to start her first summer holiday without her husband Prince Philip by her side.

The monarch was wearing a turquoise blouse while she was driven to the airport, where a plane was ready to fly her to her annual summer break vacation last Friday. 

This vacation may be a very poignant journey for the queen as it marks the first time she will spend her annual holiday in the castle without her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

It is commonly believed that Balmoral, and the land which surrounds the Scottish castle, is where the queen and her late consort were at their happiest. The queen last traveled to her Scottish vacation home 'out of season' - meaning, during a time when she normally would not - in May in order to privately grieve for her beloved husband in a place they both cherished. 

Prince Philip was missed not only by his wife but also by the people of the United Kingdom. The accomplished and celebrated consort to Queen Elizabeth II will always remain one of the most endearing members of the royal family. 
Prince Philip lived an incredibly full life until he died at the age of 99 earlier this year. Not only was his life an extraordinary one, but his marriage was too — Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrated 73 years of marriage together, officially making theirs the longest royal marriage on record. Always by each other's side, the couple endured a lot in their over a seven-decade-long relationship.

On top of serving as the queen's consort for over 70 years, Prince Philip was known to be Her Majesty's rock, as well as a guiding light for the entire royal family. She spoke of this on more than one occasion, while Prince William and Prince Harry have also spoken of their fondness for their grandfather. In fact, it was Prince Philip who persuaded William and Harry to walk behind their mother's coffin at her funeral.

Although he is a fundamental part of the British royal family, Prince Philip was born overseas in Corfu, Greece, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. When he was a young child Prince Philip was forced into exile with his family. In order to marry Queen Elizabeth, he renounced his Greek and Danish titles and took on his mother's maiden name of Mountbatten, according to Biography.

How the royal couple met is also a testament to their enduring love. Unlike many royal marriages that are arranged matches, their marriage was based entirely on love. According to Reader's Digest, Elizabeth and Philip first met at the wedding of Philip's cousin in 1934, when she was 8 and Philip was 13. They met again when she was 13 and Philip was 18, and the young Elizabeth found him to be very attractive indeed.

It was around this time that Philip was active in the Royal Navy. During World War II, he was deployed overseas, but he and Elizabeth regularly exchanged letters during this time. He returned to England in 1946 and proposed, and she said yes. However, due to royal family rules, they had to hide their engagement for several months until Elizabeth turned 21.

The couple fully committed to the marriage and have always provided unwavering support to each other. Gyles Brandreth wrote in his book "Philip & Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage:"

"The Queen wears the crown, but her husband wears the trousers. He is the power behind the throne: steadfast, never-failingly supportive."

Queen Elizabeth admitted as much in a speech in 1977, saying that Philip has been her strength over the years. She reiterated this during her 2012 Diamond Jubilee speech when she called him her "constant strength and guide."

One of the couple's favorite places in Great Britain was their Scottish vacation home, Balmoral Castle. The estate has belonged to the royal family since 1852, when Queen Victoria first purchased it. However, the original design and architecture cannot be seen today; Queen Victoria had the original building demolished. The current building was constructed in its stead and finished in 1856. 

For years now, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip would visit Balmoral over the summer. The long-standing tradition saw them arrive in August with their family and usually stay for several weeks. From the start, Balmoral was a very special place for the couple. They spent their honeymoon in the hunting lodge on the estate, marking the beginning of many shared memories that took place in Balmoral.

Queen Elizabeth will not have to face all those memories alone now. According to the Daily Mail, she is expected to stay until October and will be joined by several changing family members over the course of her stay. Hopefully, having her family close by will lessen the empty feeling Balmoral and its memories might evoke.

What do you think about Balmoral Castle and the queen's vacations? Would you like to visit the historic building, if it were possible? Tell us what you think and pass this along to friends and fellow royal fans!