Duchess of Cambridge invited to Balmoral so Queen can 'get to know her better' - Telegraph.co.uk

However the couple are no strangers to the neighbourhood. When they were plain old Kate and Wills at St Andrews University, they frequently used the Royal estate as a retreat, sharing an estate cottage called Tam-na-Ghar during their breaks from university.

But this will be the first time the Duchess has joined in the summer holiday at Balmoral.

The Queen and Prince Philip will spend a few weeks at the estate and are usually joined by Prince Charles and Camilla. They are frequently all seen together at the Braemar Highland Games.

As well as the magnificent Deeside landscape of mountains, lochs and glens, the former Miss Kate Middleton can also look forward to joining in royal picnics, home-cinema evenings with the Queen and the family barbecues where Prince Philip famously insists on personally cooking the sausages and steaks himself.

Insiders say the get-together will also finally allow the Queen to spend some time with Kate and "get to know her better".

The forthcoming family holiday in Scotland would also allow the Duchess to meet all the staff at Balmoral in preparation for her possible future role as mistress of the house.

Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty, said the invitation is an opportunity for the Queen to get to know her grandson's wife better.

"This is quite an important visit for Kate because, believe it or not, The Queen does not really know her very well at all.

"Kate has never had an invitation before to stay at Balmoral - but she is family now and The Queen wants to get to know her.

"It is an important visit in many ways - not least because The Queen will want Kate to meet all the staff - one day she will be responsible for them. There will be a three-line whip on to introduce her to everyone.

"The Queen needs to present Kate to Scotland. The time has come."

The Duke and Duchess are expected to attend the Edinburgh wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall next Saturday week (July 30) - which coincides with Balmoral closing its tourist doors for the year the following day.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh may head to Balmoral after their granddaughter's wedding - and stay at Craigowan Lodge on the estate while the main house is made ready. They will stay on the Deeside estate until early October.

A spokesman for Clarence House said: "William and Catherine are now spending time as a married couple on Anglesey. We cannot comment on their future private time."