Queen Elizabeth isn’ta lot like us but she does do something that so many people do in thesummer — she goes on vacation (or if you’re British, on holiday). But insteadof loading up the family station wagon with sunscreen, beach chairs, and potatochips, the Queen does things slightlydifferently. Every year Her Majesty heads to hersummer home in Balmoral which is supposedly one of her favorite spots to be.
She must love it there — Queen Elizabeth has been vacationing at Balmoral for decades. And some family members even say it’s where she’s content and most real. “I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands,” Princess Eugenie said during the documentary Our Queen At Ninety.
While she’s there, Queen Elizabeth does something so unusual. Royal fans can’t believe that Her Majesty accomplishes this one task by herself while on vacation.
Queen Elizabeth doesn’t fully relax while she’s on holiday
As expected, the Queen travels with a full staff including housekeepers, chefs, and the like. But even though she doesn’t have to lift a finger while she’s on holiday, Her Majesty enjoys washing dishes after dinner sometimes.
“Youthink I’m joking, but I’m not,” former British PrimeMinister Tony Blair said after a Balmoralvisit.“They put the gloves on and stick their hands in the sink. The Queen asks ifyou’ve finished, she stacks the plates up and goes off to the sink.”
Why wouldQueen Elizabeth do something so pedestrian, like washing dishes? Probably becauseit’s so foreign to her. Unlike the rest of us who have to do dishes all thetime, Queen Elizabeth might be comforted by the odd ritual that she doesn’tnormally do.
The Queen mostlyloves spending time with her family
Though herBalmoral estate is an escape from the pressures of daily life, it’s not likethe Queen wants to hide out in solitude. Instead, she prefers spending timethere with family members who make the trek, enjoying cookouts and game nights.Princess Eugenie said time there includes, “walks, picnics and a lot ofdogs.”
The Queen even broke royal protocol once, inviting Kate Middletonto spend time at Balmoral before she and Prince William were engaged. But that’snot something she does very frequently. And it mostly proves that she knew whatmost of us did not — that her grandson would most likely wed Middleton eventually.Otherwise, she never would have been invited.
Balmoral has a long history
The royal vacation destination dates back to 1390, though it didn’tbecome property of the British royals until 1852 when Prince Albert purchasedit as a gift for Queen Victoria. Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned atBalmoral though most agreed it was less than ideal. Sadly, Prince William and PrinceHarry were visiting the estate when they found out about their mother’s tragic death.
The public can tour the estate in the springtime but it is closedwhen the Queen and her family are in residence.
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