For royals, visiting Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands is an annual end-of-summer tradition but since the Queen’s passing, things have not been the same.

King Charles, for example, has decided not to stay at Balmoral altogether after making the trip to Scotland, heading instead to a different location – in Birkhall where he is staying with his wife Queen Camilla.

Though Birkhall is part of the Balmoral estate, it offers more privacy and solitude, which Charles is said to favour as it allows him to tend to his gardens and gather his thoughts.

The monarch is also said to be recharging at Birkhall after a busy few days last week in London, where he reportedly received cancer treatment.

He also recently visited the grieved families in Stockport to pay respects to the three little girls who were killed last month at a Taylor Swift tribute event.

The King is said to have retreated to Birkhall after meeting the rest of the royal family in Balmoral who are still vacationing there, a source told The Daily Beast.

The source said: “The king is sleeping a lot. He is not one to sit around doing nothing, so relaxing for him takes the form of reading, writing, painting, and gardening. He has always loved throwing on his wellies and getting out in the garden, that’s his happy place.”

Birkhall was gifted to Charles by the late Queen Elizabeth II after being the retreat of the late Queen Mother. It came into royal hands when Prince Albert bought the Balmoral Estate in 1852.

Birkhall is particularly meaningful for Charles as he was able to retreat there following the death of his mother.

It is also where he and Prince William were able to have dinner following the passing of the monarch without having to deal with any awkward confrontations with other members of the family, the Daily Beast added.

Prince Harry, whose relations with the Prince of Wales have been strained for years, had headed to the Balmoral estate alone following the death of the late Queen, after the main royal party.

Charles is now able to reside peacefully in Birkhall before he heads on a royal tour to Oceania in October.