Here are some photos of King Charles on Sunday and Monday (today). On Sunday, he drove himself and Queen Camilla to church at Balmoral. Today, Charles went solo for the official welcome ceremony outside the gates of Balmoral, where he inspected troops and greeted a pony (the same pony-nemesis of QEII).
KC and Camilla arrived in Balmoral right after they finished up their appearance for the commemorative events for VJ Day last Friday. This is probably the latest arrival for the monarch in Balmoral ever – QEII usually made it to Balmoral in mid-July, at the latest. Not only that, but she would stay in Scotland for a good two months, and then she would go to Sandringham for a bit as well right afterwards. I was going to say that maybe Charles hates being in Scotland, but I don’t actually think that’s the case. He actually spent several weeks this summer at Castle of Mey, his other privately-owned Scottish castle. As it turned out, Charles was there alone, with Camilla vacationing on a yacht with her kids and grandkids. So… does Charles just hate staying at Balmoral specifically? Because he spends less and less time there every year.
It also feels like Charles is trying to get as much done as he can with what time he has left. This summer, there have been some random reports about his health and how he’s deteriorating. The non-tabloid media in the UK won’t touch those reports though, not even when his cancer is mentioned by a WWII veteran on VJ Day.
The next big “thing” or storyline for Charles is whether he’ll meet Prince Harry in person when Harry is in London next month. I still have no idea, honestly.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive to attend a Sunday church service Featuring: King Charles III and Queen Camilla Where: Crathie Kirk, United Kingdom When: 17 Aug 2025 Credit: Paul Campbell/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive to attend a Sunday church service Featuring: King Charles III and Queen Camilla Where: Crathie Kirk, United Kingdom When: 17 Aug 2025 Credit: Paul Campbell/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III meets Shetland pony Cpl Cruachan IV (mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland) during an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle Featuring: King Charles III Where: Balmoral, United Kingdom When: 18 Aug 2025 Credit: Jane Barlow/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III inspects the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle Featuring: King Charles III Where: Balmoral, United Kingdom When: 18 Aug 2025 Credit: Jane Barlow/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III inspects the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle Featuring: King Charles III Where: Balmoral, United Kingdom When: 18 Aug 2025 Credit: Jane Barlow/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Summer?! Summer’s almost over.
I love that beautiful pony. That’s it and that’s all.
Well at least he did his duty and showed up ahead of his Balmoral visit. What’s Wills excuse?
They even missed the Glorious Twelfth! OH THE HUMANITY. Assuming Charles hasn’t canned his grouse wrangler after a twenty year career because he didn’t provide enough for the shoot, à la Sandringham… and Highgrove… hmmm. If I’m the trout and salmon wrangler for Balmoral I’d be looking for new work for certain!
Remember when Pippa tried to coach the plebs about things to enjoy for the Glorious Twelfth, like sloe gin? Good times 🤣
It does seem like Charles is trying to fit in as much as he can. Wasn’t it said that the royal houses were annoyed with the sussexes for just posting on instagram during the summer months? And here is Charles reducing Balmoral to a month or less. The Trump state visit is in a month. Presumably Charles may head down a few days early to get ready. Is Harry confirmed or presumed to go to the Wellchild event which is usually early September. Honestly, Charles may not be in town during that time but it does seem the communication lines are open so maybe they’ll meet?
The queen clearly had a very different relationship with Balmoral and a big part of that seemed to be hosting all her family and extended family over the course of the summer. That and she happily went out walking, shooting, etc.
Charles doesn’t seem to want to play that host role and has no interest in his immediate family let alone extended family so while some alone time is his thing the big summer in Scotland thing isn’t a thing anymore.
As I recall, the family and extended family were not heartbroken at the demise of the Balmoral family vacation. “You will wish to attend” is no longer a command.
That pony is going to outlive two monarchs at this rate.
Chuck was close to grandmother QM who was Scottish. But he doesn’t seem to be close to her side of the Lyon family where there was one heir convicted of sexual assault. So, no Chuck won’t host many events in Balmoral.
The golden Elizabethan age is gone.