The monarch’s journey marks a new tradition.
United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_King Charles has left his Sandringham estate for Balmoral following the church service at St Mary Magdalene Church.
King Charles put an end to a decades-long tradition the late Queen Elizabeth II created shortly after the death of her father, George VI. King Charles’ journey to Balmoral marks a significant departure from royal tradition as his mother, the late Queen, would usually stay in Norfolk throughout January, the end of her winter break to commemorate her ascension to the throne and the passing of her father, George VI, in 1952.
The late sovereign would traditionally head to her Norfolk residence of Sandringham House in mid-December, remaining there until the first week of February.
Elizabeth II was not in the UK at the time of his death had had to be rushed back from Kenya, where she and Prince Philip had stopped on their way to Australia.
For decades, the couple assembled their four children and their families, as well as other senior members of the Royal Family at Sandringham for the Christmas holidays.
The monarch hopped on an aeroplane and flew to the Scotland estate just hours after attending the Sunday morning service.
King Charles was spotted waving to crowds after leaving the church on Sunday and spent some time chatting with families waiting for the royal behind the rope line.
The King is known to be a big fan of Land Rovers and was certainly impressed by a miniature version he saw while heading to church at Sandringham this morning.
On his way to a service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate, the monarch looked amused as he spotted brothers William and Oliver Ward, aged six and three, who were sitting in a mini Land Rover with the number plate “W1LL1AM”. and stopped to chat to them. The King went over to speak with them, and parents Simon, 45, and Georgina, 35, who had joined other wellwishers outside the church.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to spend the next few weeks at Birkhall at Balmoral estate. According to The Telegraph, the couple will also visit the Castle of Mey, the former home of his late grandmother, during their time in Scotland.
Birkhall, a favourite residence of King Charles, holds fond memories, including his proposal to Camilla in 2005, as well as their honeymoon.
The monarch who inherited the 53,000-acre estate from his grandmother when she died in 2002, often spends his summers there with Camilla.
