In mid-August, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to continue Queen Elizabeth’s long-standing tradition of hosting a family vacation on the Balmoral estate.
This annual summer retreat holds great significance for the royal family, as it was where the late Queen spent her final days.
The guest list for this year’s reunion includes most members of the family, such as Prince William, Princess Kate, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Prince Edward, Duchess Sophie, and even Prince Andrew.
However, notable absentees from the gathering are Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, as reported by the Daily Mail.
According to the Palace Insider, one of the highlights of this cozy occasion will be the royal debut of Princess Eugenie’s baby son, Ernest.
The two-month-old Ernest, accompanied by his parents Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, will mark his first appearance in front of the extended royal family.
The couple, who already have a two-year-old son named August, is cherishing every milestone with their newborn.
In a birth announcement, Eugenie mentioned that August is already relishing his role as a big brother.
While the summer plans of Eugenie and Jack remain undisclosed, it is highly likely that they will join King Charles in hosting the retreat at Balmoral, following in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Eugenie has previously expressed her fondness for the estate, stating in a 2016 ITV documentary, “Our Queen at Ninety,” that Balmoral is the most beautiful place on earth.
If Eugenie and Jack do make the trip to Scotland this summer, they are expected to be accompanied by Eugenie’s sister, Princess Beatrice, and her family.
However, there is a condition attached to their presence at the reunion.
Insider sources reveal that Eugenie and Jack will bring their two sons, August and Ernest, to Balmoral only if Meghan Markle is not attending the event.
This decision stems from concerns about the potential sale of the children’s images and other forms of harassment.
Meghan had previously manipulated a photo of August, adding him to a picture of Frogmore Cottage.
The presence of Meghan and Harry would undoubtedly make several royal members uncomfortable, including Eugenie.
Consequently, the palace has officially announced that King Charles has no plans to invite Harry and Meghan to the royal family’s reunion at Balmoral this summer.
If the couple does not attend, it means that their two children, Archie and Lilibet, will not spend the summer with their UK-based relatives.
Royal expert Robert Jobson, speaking on behalf of an insider, disclosed that there is minimal communication between the king and his youngest son.
Tensions have become more strained since Charles ascended to the throne.
Royal correspondent Richard Palmer also expressed his doubts about Prince Harry and Meghan’s invitation to the castle.
The Duke of Sussex last visited Balmoral after the death of Queen Elizabeth, but his father did not allow him to bring his wife along.
Palmer stated, “This year is going to be interesting because we’ve certainly been led to believe that the king wants to get his family together at Balmoral.”
However, when asked about Harry and Meghan’s attendance, he added, “I’ll be very surprised if they do.”
As for the plans for this year’s retreat, it remains unclear how King Charles intends to shake things up at the estate.
However, the Mail reports that he will uphold some traditional events, including the Gillies Ball, a tartan-themed end-of-summer celebration where the royals mingle with their staff.
There are even hopes that the new king might personally take charge of the grill for one of the famous barbecues.