A bonnie brooch! Cheerful Queen, 94, celebrates the Scottish Highlands by donning a gold stag pin as she arrives at Balmoral with Prince Philip for the start of their summer holiday
- The Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, arrived in Scotland yesterday for the start of their summer holiday
- The royal couple boarded a private plane to Aberdeenshire and were taken by car to the Balmoral estate
- The Queen changed en route, donning a favourite gold stag brooch and wearing a headscarf
- The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been in isolation at Windsor Castle since the start of lockdown
The Queen celebrated the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands by donning a gold stag brooch ahead of her arrival at Balmoral yesterday.
The Queen, 94, who has been isolating at Windsor Castle, was not wearing the accessory when she and the Duke of Edinburgh, left RAF Northolt, in west London, yesterday afternoon in a private jet bound for Aberdeen airport.
However on their arrival at Balmoral, the royal family's 50,000-acre estate, the Queen was seen sporting the charming pin on the lapel of her powder blue tweed suit. The brooch is not often seen on Her Majesty but is worn on occasion during her long summer holidays in Scotland.
To add to the ensemble, the Queen wrapped her hair in a silk headscarf - a go-to look when she is off-duty. Prince Philip, 99, wore a jacket over his shirt and jumper.
The Queen waved to photographers and well-wishers as they drove into the sprawling estate, where they will remain until early October. They are expected to be joined by family members throughout their stay, although social distancing measures will be in place to protect Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh.
A moving truck from high-end firm Abels, which holds a royal warrant, arrived at the residence shortly before the couple.
The time in the Scottish countryside will be a welcome change of scenery for the couple, who have not left the grounds of Windsor Castle since March.
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The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh appeared in excellent spirits as they arrived at Balmoral for the start of their summer holiday. Arriving at the Scottish holiday home, the Queen, 94, waved to photographers and well-wishers as she drove past
In a nod to the setting, the Queen had added a favourite gold stag brooch to the lapel of her powder blue tweed suit. The accessory is a favourite of Her Majesty when she is staying in Balmoral. She also wrapped her hair in a silk headscarf
The couple, who have been isolating at Windsor Castle, travelled by car to RAF Northolt, in west London, yesterday, where they boarded a private jet. The Queen was wearing different accessories when she left England (pictured)
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh travelled by car from Windsor Castle to RAF Northolt to board the private plane, which formerly belonged to Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy.
After a short flight, the Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, touched down at Aberdeen airport where they were met by a Range Rover.
The couple landed in overcast weather, with the Queen donning a rain mac over her smart powder blue suit as her husband followed her down the stairs of the plane in his own practical waterproof coat.
They were followed by royal aides carrying luggage and a pair of dorgis, the Queen's beloved dogs which are a cross between a dachshund and a Welsh corgi.
A group of royal aides travelled up to the estate ahead of time to prepare the castle for the couple's arrival.
It is understood staff quarantined for two weeks in order to minimise the risk of the Queen or Prince Philip, who are both in their 90s, being exposed to Covid-19.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Scotland for the start of their summer holiday. The couple travelled by private jet from RAF Northolt, in west London, to Aberdeen airport where they were met by driver, pictured
The couple were followed off the plane by royal aides carrying luggage and their faithful dorgis - a cross between a dachshund and a Welsh corgi. Pictured, a member of royal staff carries one of the dorgis off the flight
The Queen's removal van, from high-end moving company Abels is pictured crossing a bridge to approach the the Scottish castle
The Queens removal van departs Balmoral Castle after moving Her Majesty from Windsor Castle to Balmoral to mark the start of her summer break - albeit on a rainy day
Reports suggest the hand-picked team of royal aides who will join the couple include Vice-Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, master of the household; Sir Edward Young, the Queen’s private secretary, and Paul Whybrew and William Henderson, her pages.
Major Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, her equerry; Terry Pendry, her head groom; Angela Kelly, the Queen’s personal assistant and her senior dresser; Jackie Newbold, Kelly’s PA; and three assistant dressers will also join, according to The Sunday Times.
It is thought staff will minimise their contact with people outside the royal household in order to create a 'Balmoral bubble' designed to keep the Queen and Prince Philip safe.
Measures will also be taken if any members of the royal family come to visit. Typically the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are joined by their children and grandchildren, as well as close friends, throughout the summer holiday.
After the short flight, the couple were seen arriving to overcast weather, with the Queen donning a rain mac over her smart powder blue suit as her husband followed her down the stairs of the plane
The Queen's beloved dorgis were carried from the plane after the royal couple, one pictured above
Another royal aide was carrying what appears to be a new Apple laptop, unopened in its box (pictured)
However this year any visitors, who typically include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, will likely maintain social distancing while on site.
Family members will not stay in the castle with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as they have done in previous years and will instead be housed in other properties in the grounds of the 50,000-acre estate.
They will be able to meet her for outside activities instead including walks, horse riding and picnics.
Previous reports suggest Balmoral staff have been banned from social activity and the annual Ghillies Ball has also been cancelled due to coronavirus.
An insider told the Mail on Sunday 'stir-crazy' aides are staying in the New Block, a dull granite building with a dozen bedrooms outside near the castle.
The insider said: 'Without all the normal facilities which make a stay pleasant for staff, everyone's saying it's like being in Colditz, the prisoner of war camp.
The couple, who have been isolating at Windsor Castle since March, travelled by car from Windsor to RAF Northolt, west London, ahead of their private flight to Aberdeenshire
The Duke of Edinburgh, 98, was dapper in a yellow collard shirt and green jumper as he travelled in the back of a car for the flight to Aberdeenshire yesterday
The Queen looked perfectly made up with a slick of berry-coloured lipstick and expertly coiffed hair as she arrived at the airfield with the Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen, pictured, arrived at RAF Northolt in the back of a chauffeur-driven car ahead of the flight. She and Prince Philip will remain at Balmoral, in Aberdeenshire, until early October
'It's the assignment from hell because there is absolutely nothing people can do. The social club remains shut and the staff bar closed. With so little to do they're going stir-crazy.'
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been isolating at Windsor Castle with a reduced household since March 19.
Although she has been unable to carry out many engagements in person, the Queen has remained active in her royal duties, taking part in video call meetings and conducting her weekly audience with the Prime Minister via telephone.
Meanwhile the Duke of Edinburgh recently came out of retirement to perform a long-distance royal engagement with his daughter-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall, who remained in Gloucestershire.
The couple were most recently seen together at the wedding of their granddaughter Princess Beatrice, 31, and property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who tied the knot in secret on 17 July at Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor.
That same day the Queen knighted Colonel Sir Tom Moore, 100, in recognition of his extraordinary fundraising efforts.
At one point it was feared Covid-19 travel restrictions would scupper the Queen's annual summer getaway.
Meanwhile, Prince Charles also visited Scotland and shared pictures from his visit to the North Highlands. He met with his local Caithness to thank them for their work during the pandemic
The Prince of Wales sported a grey suit and his signature spotted tie and pocket square combo to meet representatives from Dounreay and the Castletown Community Council Trust to the Castle of Mey
Charles revealed on Instagram that he met with locals after hearing about the remarkable support they have provided locally including grocery and hot food deliveries, manufacturing of much needed PPE and vital prescription pick-ups for residents
The weeks in Balmoral will be a welcome change of scenery for the couple, who have not left the grounds of Windsor Castle since March. Pictured, the couple in the quadrangle of the royal residence in a photo shared to mark Philip's birthday in June
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been isolating at Windsor Castle with a reduced household since March 19. Pictured, the quiet streets around Windsor last month
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