She usually relaxes at Balmoral King Charlesas she walked around the sprawling estate with her dogs and curled up with a book.
But the Queen took a break from her usual summer retreat for a day out with the girls – and some retail therapy.
Camilla was less than twelve kilometers from the royal residence seen walking in and out of shops in the Scottish village of Ballater with her sister Annabel Elliot, 77, daughter Laura Lopes, 48, and granddaughter Eliza, 18.
The 79-year-old queen grinned as she left a store selling Scottish cashmere, KT Boutique, armed with shopping bags on Monday.
Eliza, the flower girl, was there Prince William and Catherine’s wedding in 2011 and joined them at the Buckingham Palace balcony, closely followed by her grandmother.
The women stocked up on holiday literature, visited a bookstore called AB Yule and left with paper bags.
The queen’s 16-year-old twin grandsons, Gus and Harry Lopes, also joined in, although the teens quickly seemed to tire of shopping and headed back to the car.
Together with her other grandson Freddy Parker Bowles, also 16, they acted as Pages of Honor at the coronation in 2023. All five of her grandchildren’s names were embroidered in gold thread on her white dress before the ceremony.
The 79-year-old queen grinned as she left a store selling Scottish cashmere, KT Boutique, armed with shopping bags on Monday.
Camilla went on a day out to Ballater, a short drive from Balmoral, with her family. Pictured with her sister Annabel (right) and granddaughter Eliza, 18
The queen and her sister Annabel Elliot both appeared to be stocking up on holiday reading as they left a bookstore carrying paper bags
Eliza, who was flower girl at Prince William and Catherine’s wedding in 2011, joined Charles and Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
The Queen opted for a more subdued look yesterday, wearing jeans, a blue shirt, a navy sweater and a parka.
The locals are used to spotting members of the royal family during the summer months. Last year Camilla, Laura and Eliza went on a similar shopping trip in Ballater.
The king, 77, has also performed a handful of low-key duties during his time in Scotland. On Friday he attended an event at Ballindalloch Castle in Speyside, run by the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, of which he is a patron.
He also watched the Mey Highland Games at John O’Groats and visited Dingwall.
Charles and Camilla are expected to do so hosting a range of guests at Balmoral this year, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The Queen will also travel to York this week for the first day of racing at the Ebor Festival.
