Queen enjoys a week with the grandchildren at Balmoral
<p>The Queen has spent a very special week with Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children at Balmoral - a place which holds many fond memories for the Queen of all the times she visited with Prince Philip at her side.</p>
<p>Over the week, the Queen and her extended family enjoyed fishing, riding horses and hiking according to a royal insider.</p>
<p>Prince William, 38, and Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all attended. It was a time for the Cambridges to spend some 'special time' with the monarch.</p>
<p>It’s thought this special week at the Queen’s Scottish estate in Aberdeenshire over the Bank Holiday weekend would have 'lifted the monarch's spirits.'</p>
<p>But at the same time, it would be ‘bittersweet’ for the Queen as it’s the first time she’ll be hosting a family gathering at Balmoral without Prince Philip.</p>
<p><strong>First time the family has visited since Prince Philip’s death</strong></p>
<p>Writing in <em>Vanity Fair</em>, Katie Nicholl revealed the occasion marked the first time the family had been able to come together for a trip since Prince Philip's death in April.</p>
<p>Meanwhile another insider revealed the annual trip over the last week of August had become a tradition for the family, with the monarch reserving the Bank Holiday weekend for time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.</p>
<p>They said: 'In the past it has turned into one big sleepover with lots of the Queen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her Majesty enjoys it immensely.'</p>
<p>The royal expert also reported the Queen has been known to leave gifts for her grandchildren on their beds during their stay at Balmoral.</p>
<p>The monarch arrived at the Aberdeenshire estate in late July and typically remains until early October.</p>
<p>It comes after a source claimed the Queen was 'itching for things to get back to normal' during her annual break and she hoped to host a BBQ for the royal family at the castle.</p>
<p><strong>Fergie and Prince Andrew are coming as well</strong></p>
<p>It was also revealed Fergie was invited to stay at the Queen's Scottish retreat this summer as well.</p>
<p>‘Sarah Ferguson is coming,' the source said. 'She will be here with Andrew.' It's not clear whether Fergie and Andrew will be joined by their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.</p>
<p><strong><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.10047846889955px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843650/prince-philip-and-queen-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ea6723b72c024dc5904081bbe490f301" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>No doubt this holiday will be bittersweet</strong></p>
<p>The stay at Balmoral will no doubt be bittersweet for the Queen, who has many fond memories of her time spent at the estate with her late husband.</p>
<p>While never truly off duty it was the closest the Queen and Prince Philip would come to a real holiday.</p>
<p>There have been reports of raucous, drink-fuelled evenings and jovial house parties, and quiet days with old-fashioned parlour games by the fire.</p>
<p>In April, the Queen released a very special photograph of herself and Prince Philip in the hills near Balmoral, giving us another special insight into how much they enjoyed their time at the estate.</p>
<p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>
