Inside little-known Royal cottage where William & Harry spent many happy summers in the ‘most beautiful place on earth’
THE little-known Royal cottage where Princes William and Harry spent many happy summers was dubbed the "most beautiful place on earth" by royals who visited.
Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was the late Queen's go-to vacation destination in the summer.
But less than a mile down the road sits Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral Estate.
The longest-reigning monarch treasured holidaying in the cottage where she enjoyed quality time with her extended family there, especially with grandsons William and Harry.
Queen Elizabeth II spent three months every summer on the Scottish estate and would “kick off her shoes” to relax.
Holidays up in Scotland with her grandsons were cherished memories for the Queen, who doted on the pair.
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King Charles and Princess Diana spent time at Craigowan Lodge with their sons when they were visiting Balmoral in the summer.
He and his then-fiancé were photographed before their wedding while staying at the home.
On the 2016 ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety, Princess Eugenie spoke about how much the Scottish highlands mean to her remarkable grandmother
She said: "It's the most beautiful place on earth. I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands."
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During the airing of ‘The Queen at 90’, Prince William recalled a hilarious moment when he and Peter Phillips were chasing Zara around on a go-cart.
He said the pair managed to navigate Zara into a lamppost and the lamppost came down and nearly squashed her.
Prince William said: "I remember my grandmother being the first person out at Balmoral to come running across the lawn in her kilt.
"She came charging over and gave us the most almighty telling off, and that sort of stuck in my mind from that moment on."
QUALITY TIME
Royal author Katie Nicholls said the Queen and Prince Philip adored the time they got to spend with William and Harry on the Balmoral estate.
Set in 50,000 acres, the Queen “encouraged them to let off steam at Balmoral”, and their grandfather also spent quality time with them.
He “taught them how to salmon-fish, and the boys would spend hours romping with him through the wild Scottish countryside”, Kate added.
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Queen Elizabeth was residing at Balmoral when the news broke of Princess Diana’s death in 1997.
And in her role as monarch, she held out an olive branch to Harry and Meghan by inviting them to stay in Craigowan Lodge during her summer break.
