THE Queen has taken a “mini-break” to Scotland to chill out and ensure she is fully fit and ready for her four-day Platinum Jubilee beano.
The 96-year-old is staying at her Highlands bolthole Craigowan Lodge on her Balmoral estate.
It comes after The Celeb Report revealed a wheelchair lift and security ring of steel had been installed around the lodge – so she could spend more time in Scotland.
The Queen has carried out a hectic few weeks opening the Elizabeth Line, watching the Royal Windsor Horse Show and taking a golf cart around Chelsea Flower Show.
She will relax at the lodge described as her “favourite home” before Platinum Jubilee kicks off next Thursday.
It means she could be out of Windsor when Harry and Meghan arrive with their children Archie and Lilibet next week at Frogmore Cottage.
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The monarch often travels to Balmoral at this time of year and usually stays for around a week.
Her break on this occasion is understood to be a means of pacing herself ahead of the Jubilee weekend.
A source close to the Queen said she wants to take more short breaks to Balmoral and Sandringham when possible.
One said: “It dawned on her last year that she can take these mini-breaks and she thoroughly enjoys them.”
Her Majesty has spent several weekend breaks at Sandringham since Philip died last year.
But this is her first mini-break north of the border since The Celeb Report revealed her plans to spend more time at Craigowan Lodge.
The cottage has been fitted with a £20,000 lift ahead of her plans to spend more time at the retreat in the Scottish Highlands.
A new security gate, a state-of-the-art intercom system and a string of CCTV cameras are also due to be installed at Craigowan Lodge.
The “wheelchair-friendly” Lifton Trio lift is the largest in its range.
But sources close to the Queen say she is refusing to use a wheelchair at Windsor Castle.
Although she was seen using a stick at the opening of the Elizabeth Line and Royal Windsor Horse Show last week.
And was chauffeur-driven in her £62,000 golf buggy at Chelsea on Monday.
The Queen is still suffering “episodic mobility problems” and is thought unlikely to carry out the full ceremonial role at Trooping the Colour on Thursday.
It is believed she will follow the procession from a vehicle or carriage and will not receive the official salute for the first time in 70 years.
But aides hope she WILL appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony shortly afterwards for a RAF flypast.
She is then expected with the entire family – including Andrew, Meghan and Harry – at a service in St Paul’s Cathedral in her honour on Friday.
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A step-free route has been found for her to get to her seat at The Derby on Saturday afternoon.
But palace insiders have not confirmed whether she will be seen with other royals at the party at Buckingham Palace on Saturday or the pageant climaxing at the palace on Sunday.
