Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II watches sports, enjoys barbecue, and goes to a nearby church when she's in Balmoral. Pictured: The Queen during a visit to the Chapel to view the restoration and meet local people involved with the project at the Royal Dockyard Chapel during an official visit on April 29, 2014 in Pembroke Dock, United Kingdom. Getty Images/Bethany Clarke

Queen Elizabeth II regularly goes to the Balmoral estate for her annual summer vacation with the other members of the royal family.

But what does she really do there during her stay? Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, revealed that the Queen does a lot of things even when she’s technically on vacation.

“There’s no doubt that the Queen feels at home at Balmoral. She loves the relaxed pace of life in the countryside. If the Queen was not our monarch, she would be very happy being a countrywoman, surrounded by nature, her dogs, and horses. She is often joined by other royals at Balmoral, where they take part in outdoor sports, go on love walks and have barbecues,” he told Express.

According to Fitzwilliams, the Queen also goes to Crathie Kirk, a small parish church near the property. Just two weeks ago, she was photographed on her way to the church with her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, and son, Prince Andrew.

Other members of the royal family are also expected to visit the monarch while she’s in Balmoral. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, for instance, will drop by the estate in the coming weeks.

“New members of the royal family are expected to pass the Balmoral test when they visit the estate. The ability to feel at ease in the countryside is seen as a prerequisite for feeling comfortable in the royal family. It will be very interesting to see how Meghan fares since she grew up in Los Angeles and is more used to urban life,” he said.

However, not all members of the royal family enjoy their stay at Balmoral. Princess Diana reportedly disliked her time there because she felt bored and unhappy during her stay. She was also the first member of the royal family to undergo the so-called Balmoral test.

“An invitation to Balmoral, where the Queen is expected to remain until September, is traditionally part of the initiation into the royal family. The Balmoral test was initially passed by Diana who was later unhappy and bored there,” Fitzwilliams told Express.

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