King Charles has officially arrived at his Balmoral estate in Scotland, where he is expected to spend several weeks for his annual summer retreat.

The royal family’s Instagram account confirmed on Monday that the 76-year-old monarch was “welcomed by a Guard of Honour” upon his arrival.

Continuing a Royal Tradition

It has long been customary for the sovereign to spend part of the summer at Balmoral. Queen Elizabeth II upheld the tradition throughout her reign, enjoying family time on the estate before resuming royal duties in September.

In their post, the royal family page shared: “The king has arrived at Balmoral Castle where he was welcomed by a Guard of Honour held by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland.

His Majesty met the mascot of the Regiment: a Shetland pony called Corporal Cruachan IV. The king’s arrival continues the long tradition of Monarchs spending their summers at Balmoral, which began with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the mid-1800s.”

Balmoral Castle Closed Amid Storm Floris

Earlier this month, Balmoral temporarily shut its gates due to extreme weather. On August 4, the estate announced via Instagram: “Balmoral will be closed to the public today, Monday 4th August, due to Storm Floris. Please do not travel to the Estate. We will be issuing refunds for tickets to visit today. Stay safe, everyone.”

The UK Met Office had issued amber and yellow wind warnings, forecasting gusts between 50 and 70 mph. “Storm Floris will bring a spell of unusually strong west or northwesterly winds to much of Scotland during Monday,” the Met Office explained.

Visitor Access to Balmoral

Balmoral Castle officially reopened to visitors on April 1, offering access to its gardens, grounds, exhibitions, and for the first time last year, a section inside the historic castle itself.

Located in Aberdeenshire, the estate has been a cherished royal retreat since Queen Victoria described it as “my dear paradise in the Highlands.”

While Balmoral remains the central summer residence for the monarchy, King Charles prefers to spend much of his time at Birkhall, his private home on the estate. He and Queen Camilla also spent their honeymoon there in 2005, making it a particularly meaningful residence for the couple.