Why Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, will not sleep at Balmoral Castle during their next Scottish vacation

Prince William and Princess Catherine are reportedly set to travel to Scotland for a late summer vacation, likely with King Charles. However, while we would be forgiven for assuming the family would sleep in the historic Balmoral Castle – they will opt for a quieter cottage located nearby.

Instead of spending their nights behind the walls of the most famous royal residence, the Prince and Princess stay in a private home named Tam-Na-Ghar – gifted to the Prince by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, before she died in 2002.

Little is known about this modest home's interiors other than that it comprises three bedrooms. However, in terms of its exterior, Tam-Na-Ghar is surrounded by rolling hills and verdant fields surrounding the cottage garden. Tam-Na-Ghar is also located nearby to Birkhall, another residence owned by the King and Queen.

Everything we know about Tam-Na-Ghar

As mentioned, Tam-Na-Ghar is conveniently located near King Charles' Birkhall home and Balmoral Castle – arguably the most famous of all the royal-owned residences in Scotland.

Prince William and Princess Catherine reportedly started visiting the cottage while dating during their studies at St Andrew's University. They have since made more frequent visits to the cottage, recently vacationing there with their three children.

In recent weeks, Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their family are expected to make their annual summer trip (over 500 miles north of London) to immerse themselves in country life. Previously, the family has been known to partake in activities including horse riding, fishing, and hiking – while leaving time for picnics somewhere along the way.

During the annual trip, the family also often visited the 50,000-acre Balmoral estate, where Queen Elizabeth often spent her summers. This year is the first since her passing in September 2022, so it is unknown how much time the Prince and Princess will spend around the historic grounds.

It similarly remains unknown whether King Charles will follow in his late mother's footsteps and stay in the main castle – or will opt to remain at Birkhall, the home he already knows so well.

In her years at Balmoral, the Queen reportedly extended an open invitation to all senior members of the royal family, but it is unknown whether the King has done the same this year. The coming weeks will likely reveal all.