The Queen is hoping to visit Scotland with other
members of the royal family next week for the Ceremony of the Keys, also known
as Royals Week, which will take place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
However, due to her ongoing mobility issues, a decision on
whether she can travel will be taken nearer the time. A spokesperson for
Buckingham Palace said Her Majesty hopes to be able to attend. Traveling up to
Scotland will be Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and
his wife Sophie, and they will all be hosting special events
throughout the week.
On Tuesday, Anne will host an investiture meeting on
behalf of her mother on the grounds of the Scottish palace.
Wednesday will see the royals host a garden party at
the palace where guests will be recognized for their positive contributions
across Scotland.
On Thursday, Charles will attend a Queen’s Body Guard for
Scotland Reddendo Parade before he and his sister attend the Thistle
Service at St Giles’ Cathedral.
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The Queen usually attends the Ceremony of the Keys
Finally, on Friday, Edward and Sophie will host a Gold
Award Celebration for Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award holders from across
Scotland.
During the week, Her Majesty is often symbolically
presented with the keys to the city by the Lord Provost before handing them
back. It has not been confirmed whether another royal will carry out the
engagement on her behalf.
The Queen has a close affinity with Scotland, and often
spends her summers in Balmoral, her Scottish estate, arriving in mid-July and
leaving in September or October.
Ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the 96-year-old
monarch travelled to the private estate.
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Her Majesty is hoping to travel up for the event
Located in Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire and with 50,000
acres to explore, there’s always plenty for the royals to do at Balmoral. As well
as enjoying walks, the monarch and her family have been known to enjoy picnics,
barbecues, fishing, horse riding and cycling on the estate.
Her granddaughter Princess Eugenie has previously
revealed that the Queen is “happiest” at her rural Scottish estate.
“I think Granny is the happiest there,” Eugenie said in a documentary, Our Queen At Ninety.
“I think she really, really loves the Highlands.
Walks, picnics, dogs—a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs—and people coming in
and out all the time.”
