Royal retreat for grieving prince

The prince will mourn his grandmother at Birkhall

Prince Charles has flown to Scotland to mourn his grandmother after her funeral, officials have confirmed.

The prince will stay for the next fortnight at Birkhall in Balmoral, where he and the Queen Mother spent many happy times together.

He made the trip, with his youngest son Harry, just hours after his grandmother's body was committed to a royal tomb at Windsor.

The pair spent mant happy times at Birkhall

The Queen Mother's residence at Birkhall, above the River Muick on Royal Deeside, has been regarded as a place of retreat for the prince over the years.

His partner, Camilla Parker Bowles, also flew north to be with Prince Charles during part of his stay.

The prince flew from RAF Northolt to Aberdeen late on Tuesday and then drove to Birkhall.

The Queen Mother's funeral service took place at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday and was followed by a private committal service in St George's Chapel, within the precincts of Windsor Castle.

Queen Victoria

The Royal was laid to rest alongside her late husband in the George VI Memorial Chapel, in St George's Chapel, with the ashes of their daughter Princess Margaret who died almost two months ago.

Birkhall was built in 1715 and was bought by Queen Victoria, who was a great lover of Balmoral.

In the 1930s, King George V lent Birkhall to the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who in turn became Queen Mother.

The royal couple redecorated it and planned the gardens.

Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen, used it in the last years of her father's reign but the house passed back to the Queen Mother after her daughter's accession.