THE Queen may use Balmoral as her second home in the event of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Queen Elizabeth, who will be 90 next year, is believed to have expressed a wish to spend more time at her Highland retreat, should her husband die.
She currently spends her two-month summer break at Balmoral with her family every year. But the Sunday Times reports that plans have been explored for her to split her time between there and Buckingham Palace if and when she is on her own.
However, there is no suggestion this is an imminent plan with the Duke of Edinburgh appearing, at the age of 94, to be in robust good health and undertaking official duties.
Plans are, though, believed to be being discretely discussed for what the Queen will do when he is no longer with her.
A source told the Sunday Times: “There is a feeling that if the Duke of Edinburgh passed away her preference would be to spend more time in Scotland. The discussion has been that if he goes before her, that would be her wish.
“She loves Scotland, it has always been a great comfort to her, where she is happiest and most relaxed.
“She’s a different person up there. At Balmoral she feels she doesn’t have to be a caricature of a queen. Everyone will play it by ear but the feeling is the Scottish plan will be what she wants to do.”
The Queen is believed to feel that “location is immaterial” and that she can function just as effectively as a monarch at Balmoral as she does at Buckingham Palace.
The source added: “Her court operates anywhere — when she moves to a different residence, everyone moves with her.
“The Queen is very aware that you can be head of state anywhere these days. She knows you can look through a red box, have an audience and host a reception anywhere.”
At present the Queen resides at Buckingham Palace for about six months of the year: October to mid-December, early February to Easter and in May and June.
The castle at Balmoral has been the Scottish home of the royal family since it was bought for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848.
The Queen hosts visiting statesmen there and the prime minister visits every September.
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