After struggling through one of the most difficult days of his life, the Prince of Wales retreated to the Queen Mother’s home in the Scottish Highlands to seek peace and solace with his companion, Camilla Parker Bowles.
Prince Charles flew with his younger son, Prince Harry, to his beloved grandmother’s favourite retreat at Birkhall, on the Balmoral Estate, after saying his last goodbye at the private committal at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel. Prince William was reportedly due back immediately at St Andrew’s University where he is studying History of Art.
Earlier in the day, at the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, the king-in-waiting had obviously struggled to maintain his composure during what must have surely been one of the saddest days of his life.
Discretion had kept him apart from Mrs Parker Bowles at the funeral – and protocol dictated that it was not the time for them to be seen in public. However, having been a friend of the Queen Mother for decades, she was present – although she arrived a full hour before Prince Charles and his family and was seated at a discreet distance. And, in what royal commentators see as a significant step in their relationship, Mrs Parker Bowles was reportedly invited to the service by Queen Elizabeth.
At close to midnight on Tuesday night, Mrs Parker Bowles touched down on a scheduled airline flight at Aberdeen airport to be by the Prince’s side as he sifted through his grandmother’s possessions and quietly came to terms with the ramifications of her death. She was escorted by a British Special Branch officer on the 50-minute drive to Birkhall.
A member of the household staff said: “It’s going to be difficult facing up to all the memories this place holds for him. For any family, coming to terms with grief can be a long, slow and painful process. But at least he will have close support on hand to help him through this.”
Tucked away on the heather moors, the 18th-century Birkhall mansion was where Charles would come to visit his grandmother and seek her guidance during the most turbulent times of his life. The Queen Mother built an extra wing in 1952, which would become Prince Charles’ home-from-home when he was courting Diana. Throughout the Nineties, he and Camilla were regular visitors.
Prince Charles is expected to remain in Scotland for a week before resuming his public duties. Camilla and Prince Harry, however, are expected to stay with him for only part of that time. Prince Harry has to be back at Eton College on Tuesday.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
