King Charles officially kicks off Balmoral summer holiday with cheeky pony

King Charleshas arrived at Balmoral for the start of his summer holiday - and was treated to an official welcome.

Dressed in a tweed jacket and a kilt in keeping with Scottish tradition, the King inspected a Guard of Honour formed of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland during a small ceremony outside the Balmoral Castle Gates.

He was also greeted by their mascot, Shetland pony Corporal Cruachan IV, who has been in the role since October 2012, and is known for his cheeky antics at high-profile ceremonial events. Despite his previous stunts, the pony was on his best behaviour for the King today. It came as it emerged Prince Harry placed a secret letter at royal event in major attempt to heal the bitter feud.

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The cheeky pony once took a chunk out of the late Queen's bouquet of flowers and bit right through one of her gloves, and also nibbled Prince Harry's fingers as he and his wife Meghan tried to pet him.

After the official welcome ceremony, Charles took the time to meet with royal fans who had gathered at the castle gates, shaking hands with people in the sunshine.

Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to remain in Balmoral until mid-September, when they will return to Windsor for Donald Trump ’s US state visit. Until royal duties resume in several weeks, the King and Queen will spend quality time with their families in Scotland. The King is expected to attend the Braemar Games at the start of September.

Balmoral Castle, located near Aberdeen, has long been the destination of choice for the royal family to spend their summer breaks. The late Queen made the annual trip up north to enjoy a multi-week getaway. It is also where she passed away on September 8, 2022, and her coffin departed the estate on September 11, as it began its final journey back to London and then to Windsor Castle.

Balmoral was widely believed to be the late Queen’s favourite residence, as her granddaughter Princess Eugenie once said: "I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands.”

“Walks, picnics, dogs —a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs—and people coming in and out all the time,” Eugenie continued. “It’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.”

While at Balmoral, the royals "act as normal people—to a point," Lord Lichfield, a former photographer for the family, said in 1972. "Lunch is always outdoors and they are outside every day going on expeditions."

The first home at Balmoral was reportedly built in 1390, but the property didn’t come into the British royal family’s possession until 1852, when Prince Albert purchased the estate as a gift for his wife, Queen Victoria, who loved the Scottish countryside.

However, when the residence was deemed too small, the royal couple built an additional castle—the one that still exists today—to fit their growing family. The new structure was completed in 1856, and the other building was torn down. Now, the 50,000-acre estate features 150 buildings in total.