Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Nike x Caitlin Clark
    • Dr. Barbara Sturm
    • Tomi Adeyemi
    • Witchy Perfumes
    • Being Black at Bravo
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Kate Middleton and Prince William Enjoyed "Special Time With the Queen" at Balmoral

    They do this every year.

    Iris Goldsztajn's avatar
    By Iris Goldsztajn
    Published 2 September 2021 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    The Queen, Prince William & Kate Middleton
    (Image credit: GEOFF PUGH)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    The royals' lives are super busy, but that doesn't mean they don't have time for family. Kate Middleton, Prince William and their children George, Charlotte  and Louis just spent a week reconnecting with relatives in Scotland—including honoring their annual tradition of spending the August Bank Holiday weekend at Balmoral, the Queen's favorite Scottish residence.

    "William, Kate, and the children have been enjoying some family time in Scotland and they have just spent some special time with the Queen," a source told royal expert Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair. "They always enjoy going up to Balmoral, they love the outdoors and walking in the hills and spending quality time with family. It’s where William spent a lot of his childhood and it’s important to him that his children experience what he did as a young boy."

    Young Prince William with dog outdoors

    (Image credit: Tim Graham)

    A second source, this one a family friend, added that this last long weekend of the year has become an annual fixture for the royals. "It has become a tradition in recent years that the Bank Holiday weekend is the final family get together before Christmas and everyone is invited," the unnamed source said. "In the past it has turned into one big sleepover with lots of the Queen’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her Majesty enjoys it immensely."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    While I don't imagine the Queen gets involved in too many pillow fights, it's so sweet that the little ones get to spend time with their great-grandma—especially now that she now longer has Prince Philip by her side.

    During their stay in Scotland, the Cambridges reportedly enjoyed time with Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles as well.

    You may like
    • Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026 Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
    • Prince Harry,  Meghan Markle, Princess Kate and Prince William walking in a row Prince William and Princess Kate Have a "Very Difficult Hill to Climb" With Harry and Meghan
    • Prince William and Princess Kate walking next to each other and smiling in fall outfits Prince William and Princess Kate's Secret Weekend Getaway Revealed

    The Duke and Duchess are also reportedly looking for a more permanent change of scenery, and are said to be considering moving from London to Windsor.

    Related Stories

    royals christmas

    (Image credit: Stephen Pond)

    Meghan & Harry Are "Very Close" With Will & Kate

    canberra, australia april 25 catherine, duchess of cambridge and prince william, duke of cambridge walk along the world war i wall of remembrance during their visit to the australian war memorial on anzac day on april 25 2014 in canberra, australia the duke and duchess of cambridge are on a three week tour of australia and new zealand, the first official trip overseas with their son, prince george of cambridge photo by gary ramage poolgetty images

    (Image credit: Pool)

    See Will & Kate's Note About Prince Philip's Death

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    holidays Prince William
    Iris Goldsztajn
    Iris Goldsztajn
    Social Links Navigation
    Morning Editor

    Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.

    Read more
    Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
    By Amy Mackelden
    Prince William and Princess Kate walking next to each other and smiling in fall outfits
    Royals Prince William and Princess Kate's Secret Weekend Getaway Revealed
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry
    Royals Prince William and Princess Kate Are Taking A “Wait-and-See Approach” To Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s UK Move
    By Christine Ross
    King Charles waving in a blue suit; Prince George wearing his Eton College uniform
    Royals King Charles Could Recreate One of Queen Elizabeth's Eton Rituals
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Prince William and King Charles talking in blue suits
    Royals King Charles Thinks Prince William Is "Occasionally Hasty"
    Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former royal butler, accompanies the princess
    Royals Working for Princess Diana "Felt Like a James Bond Movie"
     
     
    Charles Spencer in a navy jacket standing in front of paintings
    Royals Charles Spencer Says People Underestimate the Royal Family's "Serious Power"
    Queen Elizabeth wears a lilac dress and matching hat
    Royals New Movie Might "Defy" a Royal Employee's "Gagging Order"
     
     
    Latest in News
    Prince William and King Charles talking in blue suits
    Royals King Charles Thinks Prince William Is "Occasionally Hasty"
    Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former royal butler, accompanies the princess
    Royals Working for Princess Diana "Felt Like a James Bond Movie"
     
     
    Charles Spencer in a navy jacket standing in front of paintings
    Royals Charles Spencer Says People Underestimate the Royal Family's "Serious Power"
    Queen Elizabeth wears a lilac dress and matching hat
    Royals New Movie Might "Defy" a Royal Employee's "Gagging Order"
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.