The Queen started her annual summer Balmoral holiday in July at Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral estate, while the castle was still open to the public, followed by taking up official residence at the castle itself in August. Her break usually ends around late September/early October with an engagement or two in Scotland before heading south.
Any appearances by The Queen during her holiday will be gathered in this post.
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October 8: One last church outing at Balmoral before heading back to London. The Queen rode to church with Lady Sarah Chatto and wore her
Aquamarine Clip Brooches.
Photos at the Daily Mail if you're so inclined.
September 29: Inching back into the public sphere with an engagement in Aberdeen,
covered here.
September 24: The
Singapore Peranakan Diamond Jubilee Brooch makes a repeat church appearance, and HM recruits Prince William as her car companion.
September 21: Our tour of Balmoral interiors continues (and of Her Maj's signature Scotland casual look, with the same stuff as the previous day), thanks to an audience with Peter Cosgrove, the Governor-General of Australia. Spot the classic iPod on the dock behind them!
September 20: The Queen received Canada's Governor General Designate Julie Payette, for an audience at Balmoral. This is classic casual QEII:
a strand of pearls,
Pearl Stud Earrings,
Black Strap Watch,
Engagement and Wedding Rings. And a Balmoral tartan skirt, of course, because that's the only way to roll.
September 10: The Saskatchewan Tourmaline Flower Brooch makes an appearance - its first since 2015! - at church.
September 9: The Queen was spotted out riding at Balmoral,
pictures at the Express.
September 4: Interrupting the Balmoral holiday for a quick engagement
opening the Queensferry Crossing and for a peek at a rare brooch:
Queen Mary's Thistle Brooch.
September 3: Church again, and this time we can see that the brooch on duty is the
Flower Basket Brooch.
September 2: Annual appearance at the Braemar Gathering,
covered separately here.
August 31: Members of the family were seen driving out of Balmoral on the anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales' death;
here's The Queen. I'll spare you links to articles trying to make a big deal out of the fact that they were at Balmoral just like they were in 1997.
August 27: Another church visit can be seen
in this gallery at Rex, but can't identify the brooch.
August 20: Finally, a church-goin' brooch we can identify! The
Singapore Peranakan Diamond Jubilee Brooch is on its sixth appearance for 2017. It seems most of the Royal Family is hanging around Balmoral right now, as the church-goin' crowd included The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of York, The Earl and (I think) Countess of Wessex, and Zara and Mike Tindall. Pictures at the link below and
also at the DM.
August 13: The Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended church at Balmoral, in another unidentifiable brooch.
Photos at the Daily Mail.
August 7: The traditional welcome ceremony kicks off the start of The Queen's official residence at Balmoral Castle. Her inspection of the Royal Guard included both the
Royal Regiment of Scotland Badge - which is getting a lot of mileage this year - and Cruachan IV, the mischievous regimental mascot that
tried to take a bite out of Her Maj's flowers at their last meeting.
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| Army in Scotland |
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| Army in Scotland |
August 6: Church at Balmoral,
in an unidentifiable brooch. [Facebook]
August 5: The Queen
made a surprise appearance at the Aboyne Highland Games to mark its 150th anniversary. She wore her
Diamond Art Deco Double Clip Brooch. [STV]
July 30: Church at Balmoral, wearing what appears to be an emerald brooch - maybe the
Round Cambridge Emerald without its pendant, but it's impossible to say for certain. [Daily Mail]
July 23: Church at Balmoral in the
Greville Scroll Brooch.
