'It was a family affair at the service with Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their children all making an appearance.'
In previous years, William and Kate elected to visit the Queen's Scottish retreat in September, but with term at Thomas's Battersea beginning on 6 September and William resuming duties the same day, we expected to see the family make the trip earlier this year. The Cambridges enjoyed a fortnight on the paradise island of Mustique with the Middletons and spent much of the summer at their Norfolk country home Anmer Hall. Following their Balmoral visit, they will likely return to Kensington Palace for much of the remainder of the year.
Kate looked elegant in a grey coat with black trim. What Kate Wore received confirmation it is a Catherine Walker design. It could be a bespoke version of the Liza coat.
Several of you noted Kate's hat appears to be a Lock & Co piece she's worn several times. Below, Kate wearing it for a 2016 RAF service at St Clement Danes Church in London.
Kate accessorised with the Queen's Bahrain pearl drop earrings. Kate has worn the earrings on several occasions including Royal Ascot in 2017. In 1947 the then Princess Elizabeth received seven larger pearls from the ruler of Bahrain, and two of the pearls were used to create the beautiful pair of earrings. From Her Majesty's Jewel Vault reports: "The earrings each contain one large round diamond and four smaller ones, three baguette diamonds, and a Bahrain pearl dangling below. The Queen seems to have worn them mainly in the early years of her reign; they were later unearthed for the Buckingham Palace summer exhibit marking her 60th wedding anniversary." More recently they were loaned to the Countess of Wessex and now the Duchess of Cambridge.
Emily Andrews tweeted:
'Kate, William, George, Charlotte & Louis are spending this weekend at Balmoral with HM. George was taken to his first grouse shoot on Friday by Kate, with the Queen, Charles, Edward, Sophie, Louise & James, Anne, Zara & Mike Tindall joining for lunch.Quite the family fun!'
Click here to view a photo of Kate and Zara with George and Savannah. Note, George is very adorably clutching a toy bunny.
Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the village of Crathie. It is known as a regular place of worship for the British Royal family when they are staying in nearby Balmoral.
Queen Victoria worshipped there from 1848, and every British monarch since has worshipped at Crathie Kirk. Victoria laid the foundation stone for a new, much larger, church in 1893. Victoria's decision to worship at Crathie Kirk initially caused a scandal, particularly when it was discovered that she had received communion there. As Supreme Governor of the Anglican Church of England, it was expected that she would worship in the Scottish Episcopal Church, which recognised the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Below, the Kirk in 1895.
The Queen simply adores Balmoral and it has been said she is happiest there.
The Royal family first became interested in Balmoral in 1847 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Ardverikie on the edge of Loch Laggan which is in the west Highlands of Scotland. Their time there was marred by terrible weather - Queen Victoria mentions the 'pouring rain' many times in her diary. While at Ardverikie the son of the Queen's physician, Sir James Clark, wrote a number of letters to his father who was convalescing at Balmoral. The letters from Balmoral described blue skies and fine weather - the news of dry weather interested Prince Albert. In 1848 it was therefore suggested that the Balmoral climate would make a more suitable Scottish residence for the Queen, with the artist James Giles commissioned to make watercolours of a plan of the house. The decision was soon made to acquire the remaining 27-year lease for Prince Albert, and in 1852 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the castle outright.
Victoria would later described Balmoral as "a paradise in the Highlands. All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils".
The Queen and Prince Philip have spent two months every summer there, and it has become a staple on the Cambridges' calendar since they married. It also holds many happy memories for them. People reports: 'William and Kate have spent some of their most romantic times at the residence, staying at a cottage called Tam-na-Ghar during their breaks from St Andrews University. The Prince also surprised his then-girlfriend in 2009, arranging a candle-lit dinner in a remote log cabin on the banks of the River Dee. A year later, Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton were guests of Prince Charles at his mansion on the estate, Birkhall. It was a sign that William and Kate's relationship was becoming even more serious - days later their engagement was announced.'
Now, almost a decade later, it's the location where they enjoy days filled with outdoor pursuits in the scenic Highlands.
The royals enjoy going for long walks, exploring all the natural beauty the estate has to offer, along with family picnics and plenty of fun and games for the children.
A number of you have been in touch asking when Kate is expected to resume duties: the only official word from the Palace was "the autumn". I imagine we'll hear something in the coming week or two.
