25 July 2023 , 10:31
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Every year the royals pack their bags and head to Balmoral for their annual summer holiday.
The annual trip was a favourite of the late Queen's as it gave the family a chance to spend quality time together away from the public eye, as well as a break from royal duties and school.
King Charles is expected to continue visiting the Scottish castle retreat with the family, although perhaps, this year at least, for a shorter period than his mother.
The trip traditionally gives family members who might not ordinarily spend time together a chance to bond.
Two of these are reportedly Lady Louise Windsor, the 17-year-old daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, and Princess Charlotte.
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Eight-year-old Charlotte visited Wimbledon this year with brother George and her parents (WireImage)Lady Louise, who is thought to be the Queen's favourite grandchild, is said to love spending time at the royal family's Scottish retreat - and even tried to teach Charlotte, who is 11 years younger than her, a new skill while there on a previous visit, reports the Express.
An insider told The Sun in 2019: "The Queen loves the fact that Louise and James [Louise's younger brother] relish their time at Balmoral, and she has become particularly close to Louise, who seems to have become her favourite grandchild, closely followed by James.
“Louise also endeared herself to everyone by looking after William and Kate’s children when they were up here. Louise loves drawing and sketching and was very patiently trying to get Charlotte to do pictures of rabbits and deer."
Lady Louise Windsor, who is said to have tried to teach Princess Charlotte a new skill while at Balmoral (Getty Images)Lady Louise is currently on her summer break from St Andrews University after completing her first year at the higher education institution, where she studies English.
Previously, her mum Sophie gave an interview to the BBC, where she talked about how she and her husband are "protective" of Louise but realise she has to be allowed to “live her life”.
She revealed that her daughter is not on social media and has the usual worries a parent has for their children.
Sophie told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I would hope that she can go on with her studies, which I think she probably will want to do, and I hope that she and her friends will protect her from anything that somebody might want to do.
"But I have to let her live her life. It's not mine to live. I can only equip her the best that I can, and then she has to make her own choices. But I hope for the next few years, at least, she will still be able to be as private as she wants to be."
Outside of her studies, Louise has also been following in the footsteps of her late grandfather Prince Philip by taking up his beloved sport of carriage driving.
She made her public speaking debut in a documentary about Philip's life last year where she spoke about how they bonded over the sport.
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She said: "The Duke of Edinburgh has been so involved in my driving, but it's slightly scary as he invented the sport pretty much. But it's incredible to have learned first-hand from him and it definitely made us closer I think."