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King Charles was in Scotland for a surprise appearance ahead of his summer vacationThe King visited Ballater, just a few miles from Balmoral Castle, to inspect the new banner of the Clan FarquharsonClan Farquharson is the clan that initially sold the Balmoral property to the royal family in 1852

Ahead of his summer vacation at Balmoral Castle, King Charles made a surprise stop in Ballater, Scotland, to attend to some official royal business.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the King visited the village in Aberdeenshire, which is just a few miles away from Balmoral. He was on hand to inspect the new banner of the Clan Farquharson at Victoria Hall, alongside His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Manson, and the Chieftain of the Clan Farquharson, Philip Farquharson.

The inspection came ahead of the Ballater Highland Games, which kick off on Thursday, Aug. 14. Always held on the second Thursday in August, the legendary Scottish event features piping competitions, Highland dancing and the Hill Race.

While in Ballater, the King, 76, also met with members of the Invercauld Highlanders — who will march the Clan Farquharson chief onto the games field on Thursday — and of the Pipes and Drums of the Scots College, Sydney, Australia.

The outing was shared in the Court Circular, the official record of the royal family’s engagements, and one bystander caught a few photos of the King out and about in Ballater, sharing the snaps on social media.

King Charles in Scotland on July 28, 2025.

AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty

While King Charles has a royal outing planned for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Friday, he may already be staying at Balmoral Castle. On Monday, Aug. 11, the royal residence’s official Instagram account announced that they were closing the grounds to the public for the summer, hinting that the royal family’s stay there was starting soon.

Balmoral has been the royal family’s summer escape since the reign of Queen Victoria. Interestingly, her husband, Prince Albert, purchased the property from Clan Farquharson, giving the King’s pre-vacation stop a bit of extra significance.

The castle and its grounds were a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth, who was known to leave for Scotland in late July until October. 

King Charles has continued his mother’s tradition of spending some of the late summer at Balmoral since his accession. Prince William and Kate Middleton usually visit with their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — as well as other royals.

Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William on the Balmoral estate in 1997.

Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty

The 50,000-acre estate in Aberdeenshire is one of two estates that the Queen — and now, King Charles — owned privately. The other is Sandringham, in Norfolk, England, where the royal family traditionally spends Christmas.

The castle and its grounds are not part of the Crown Estate, meaning the King himself can oversee and manage its various projects, which today include a gift shop and restaurant stocked by local Scottish producers and suppliers.

The King also takes pride in the fact that the estate features one of the largest remaining preserved areas of the Caledonian forest, the ancient old-growth forest that once covered much of the Highlands. The monarch has said that the area, called the Ballochbuie Forest, is one of the “most precious, and almost sacred” parts of Balmoral for him due to his passion for wildlife conservation.

King Charles first opened Balmoral to the public in 2024, allowing the tradition to continue this year.

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“While remaining true to Balmoral’s legacy as a cherished Royal home, the castle and estate have never been more welcoming. Visitors now have the chance to explore areas inside the castle, as well as immerse themselves in the estate’s abundant wildlife, rich culture, and masterful craftsmanship,” read a statement on the castle’s website.