NEED TO KNOW

  • King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to Scotland to officially begin their annual late summer holiday at Balmoral Castle
  • The royal couple were photographed attending Sunday church services at nearby Crathie Kirk on Aug. 17
  • The holiday kicked off following an emotional tribute to the King at a ceremony honoring the 80th anniversary of VJ Day last Friday

King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to Scotland to officially begin their summer holiday following an emotional service celebrating the anniversary of VJ Day.

On Sunday, Aug. 17, King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78, were seen heading to church services at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire. The King drove his wife in an Audi sedan, followed by their security detail in another SUV, and the couple smiled and waved to cameras from inside the vehicle.

Crathie Kirk is where the royals typically attend church services while summering at Balmoral, and the church has special significance for the King’s sister, Princess Anne. The Princess Royal married her second and current husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, at Crathie Kirk in December 1992, as the Church of England did not allow for remarriage after divorce at the time.

One day after the church outing, the King returned to the castle for a welcome ceremony, officially kicking off his summer stay at Balmoral.

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive to attend a church service at Crathie Kirk in Scotland on Aug. 17, 2025.

Paul Campbell/PA Images via Getty

The King was photographed inspecting the Balaklava Company, the 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Balmoral, and meeting with local well-wishers who attended the event.

Balmoral has been the royal family’s summer escape since the reign of Queen Victoria, whose husband, Prince Albert, purchased the property in 1852. The late Queen Elizabeth was known to leave for Scotland in late July and not return to London until October.

While the King made a surprise royal visit in Scotland last week ahead of the 2025 Ballater Highland Games, the VJ Day service was his final official duty in England before embarking on his holiday retreat.

King Charles at welcome ceremony at Balmoral Castle on Aug. 18, 2025.

 Jane Barlow/PA Images/Getty

Aug. 15 marked the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Japan and the end of World War II, and King Charles and Queen Camilla marked the occasion by attending a ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Captain Yavar Abbas, 105, a veteran of the 11th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army, spoke during the service and offered a heartfelt “off the script” tribute to the King.

“Before I read the excerpt, I make due apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King, who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he’s under treatment for cancer,” Abbas said, raising a hand in salute.

King Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer last year and has since continued his slate of royal duties while undergoing treatment.

Following Abbas’ tribute, cameras cut to King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were visibly emotional. The veteran also noted that he himself was a cancer survivor and has been “rid of it for 25 years and counting.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla tearfully react to Captain Yavar Abbas’s tribute to the King during the service to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Aug. 15, 2025.

Joe Giddens – WPA Pool/Getty

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Since his accession in September 2022, King Charles has continued his mother’s tradition of spending some of the late summer at Balmoral. 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.

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 King 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.

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 King first made the decision to Balmoral to the public in the early summer months last year, and allowed the tradition to continue on in 2025.

“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.