Queen Elizabeth II granted her soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law an exception to royal protocol when Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, visited the Royal Family’s home in Scotland for the first time in the summer of 2009. Royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl claims the Queen went out of her way to make Kate “feel welcome” during her first Balmoral visit, which included allowing her to take photographs. Ms Nicholl described the exception as a “true gift” and said the gesture indicated a sign of approval from the Queen.

Writing in her biography, Kate: The Future Queen, Ms Nicholl said: “Until now the Queen had met Kate only fleetingly at the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips, but she went out of her way to make her feel welcome, giving her permission to take pictures at Balmoral—a true gift to a photographer, with its turreted and Gothic-inspired architecture.”

The royal expert explained why the breach in royal protocol was so significant, especially considering Prince William and Kate did not become engaged until the following year.

She said: “As a woman who has lived her entire life in the public eye, the Queen rarely lets her guard down, and very few apart from her family and closest friends get to see the real Elizabeth.

“Now Kate was being granted an audience in a most intimate capacity.

“It was a generous move on the part of the Queen and an astute decision, given that the romance seemed to be very serious.”

Kate, who wed Prince William in a stunning ceremony on April 29, 2011, is a keen photographer and releases beautiful pictures of her three young children to celebrate their birthday every year.

Most recently, images of Prince George, 6, were published to celebrate the young royals birthday on July 22.

Kate’s interest in photograph led her to become patron of the Royal Photographic Society last month, taking over from the Queen.

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The Queen spends her summer holidays in Balmoral every year, to take a break from her royal duties in London.

But the annual visit was delayed this year, as the election of Boris Johnson delayed the Queen and Prince Philip’s scheduled departure date.

Ms Nicholl says the Queen made the 500 mile trip to Balmoral last Thursday.

The royal expert said the monarch will remain in the Scottish highlands for another three months, before she commences her royal duties.

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She said: “She goes up to Aberdeenshire every summer and she basically takes off from the middle of July until October when she starts royal duties again.

“But she has had to postpone it.

“She was meant to go at the weekend but of course we have a new Prime Minister who’s going to be announced and will need to meet the Queen.

“And as soon as that meeting has taken place she will then head off to Scotland and enjoy a holiday will all of her family.

“The Queen is at her most relaxed when she’s at Balmoral – it’s her favourite of the royal residences.”

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