ROYALS ENJOY SUMMER IN SCOTLAND

As the Prince and Princess of Wales head to Balmoral we hear how the spectacular setting provides a restorative retreat at the heart of the royal family.

Going to Balmoral, the royal family's remote stately home in the Scottish Highlands, is a traditional August getaway for the whole Windsor clan. But this year, the summer sojourn north of the border will feel extra special for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six.

So far, 2024 has been a tumultuous year for Kate, William and the King and Queen.

With both couples dealing with cancer diagnoses and treatment, it's no wonder they want to get away from it all at the castle Queen Victoria called her "dear paradise in the Highlands".

This is also the second year William will be without his beloved grandmother, who passed away at Balmoral on 8 September 2022, making the summer gathering a poignant one for all the family.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK!, "A great deal has happened since her death and we are now very much in the reign of King Charles III.

"Most of the family could do with a breather after the emotional turmoil of the past few months and the current turmoil around the country. It's a chance for them to recharge their batteries and spend time together as a family which, this year, will be all the more special when Catherine joins them. Queen Victoria once wrote that at Balmoral 'all seemed to breathe freedom and peace and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils"." Over the past few months, Kate has rarely stepped outside Adelaide Cottage, her and William's home in the grounds of Windsor Castle. She has appeared in public twice - once at Trooping the Colour and again for the final of the Gentlemen's Singles at Wimbledon. And she and William sent a special video message to Team GB last week following the Paris Olympics.

A restorative trip to Balmoral, with its emphasis on hearty outdoor activities, indicates that perhaps Kate is becoming more robust day by day. Certainly, the trip will be an emotional respite for her too.