In pictures: The Queen in Scotland over the years

The Queen spent a lot of time in Scotland over the years, from her early visits to her final days at Balmoral.

The country was a special place for her, whether she was holidaying or taking part in her royal duties.

On her first visit as Queen on June 23 1953, she had the crowds flocking to Edinburgh as she rode along Princes Street in an open carriage between pavements eight-deep with “flag-waving, cheering men, women and children”.

To mark her arrival in “her Scottish capital” a 21-gun salute boomed out from Edinburgh Castle.

After a busy week of engagements she spent a day visiting Lanark, Motherwell, Hamilton, Airdrie and Coatbridge before heading back south by train.

In 1955 she was delighting the 30,000 people who’d flocked to see the Braemar Highland Games, one of her most-loved Scottish events.

She’d return north of the border frequently over the decades to come, particularly to her Aberdeenshire estate.

It was her favoured residence in Scotland, and where she spent part of her honeymoon.

“Balmoral is a place one looks forward to very much as the summer goes on,” she reflected in the 1990s.

“I think it has an atmosphere of its own. You just hibernate; but it’s rather nice to hibernate for a bit when one lives such a very movable life.”

Obituary: Queen Elizabeth II – April 21 1926 to September 8 2022

The Queen would stay on the estate throughout August and September before heading back to London in October.

She’d usually include a visit to the nearby Braemar Gathering, where she was Chieftain of the Highland Games event.

She was familiar to worshippers at the nearby Crathie Kirk, where she’d attend services during stays at Balmoral.

According to her cousin, the Queen spent so much time at Balmoral that she perfected the Aberdeenshire accent.

Margaret Rhodes told BBC Radio 4 the monarch was a “very, very good mimic” who could “do the Norfolk and Scottish – Aberdeenshire – accents beautifully”.

In 2022, the Queen appointed a new Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle rather than Buckingham Palace for the first time in her reign.

Her age and mobility problems led to outgoing Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson and incoming PM Liz Truss making the journey from London to see the monarch in the Highlands instead while she was on her summer break.

© PA