Queen Elizabeth spends summer holiday at Balmoral without Prince Philip

However, this year is different as the 95-year-old monarch departed from Windsor Castle to begin her break without her husband—Philip.

Heartrendingly, this trip will mark the Queen's first summer at Balmoral since her husband Prince Philip’s death.

The late Duke of Edinburgh was heavily involved in the landscaping and management of the Balmoral estate where the royal family relaxes throughout the summer.

At the start of her summer holiday, the news was shared by a royal correspondent on Twitter.

Thousands of people expressed sympathy with the monarch and offered condolence over the death of her husband.

Members of the British royal family stay in Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, owned by Queen Elizabeth II.

Balmoral has been a home for the royal family since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased it in 1852 and built a new castle on the site which was completed in 1856

This year the grounds, gardens, exhibitions, gift shops and restaurants will be open to the public daily until Monday 2nd August.