AS MIU MIU LAUNCHES A NEW BALMORAL COLLECTION QUEEN ELIZABETH II

HOW THE LATE MONARCH HAS INSPIRED THE FASHION WORLD WITH HER BRITISH COUNTRY STYLE

- BECKY DONALDSON

Biting winds and driving rain sweeping in from the North Sea make Aberdeenshire summers far less forgiving than those in other parts of the UK. However, these cooler conditions bring a different kind of beauty.

Balmoral Castle is located in this picturesque part of Scotland. Each summer during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, she made a pilgrimage north to the 50,000-acre estate, which was thought to be her favourite residence.

The monarch relished time spent in nature with family, often enjoying outdoor lunches and daily excursions on horseback or behind the wheel of a Land Rover or Range Rover. Her days were filled with peaceful walks, fishing and the tranquillity of life away from the public eye.

During her stays, the Queen would swap her official wardrobe for a less formal country uniform consisting of wax or tailored tweed jackets, shirts and roll-neck jumpers or Aran knits tucked into plaid pleated skirts in, of course, Balmoral tartan. She also wore her famous headscarves, usually from Hermès.

CELEBRATING AN ICON