Queen inspects the troops as she arrives for the start of her two month summer holiday at Balmoral

She arrived for her annual summer break at Balmoral just five days after the Royal baby was born.
And now, almost two weeks later, the Queen appears to have relaxed into her two month holiday with ease.
She was greeted by hordes of well-wishers as she inspected the troops outside the gates of Balmoral today as she arrived to take up official residence.
She had landed in Scotland more than a week earlier, on 27 June, when she arrived by private aeroplane with her two corgis, Holly and Willow, for the break.

Jolly good show! The Queen inspects the Royal Scots Borderers at the gates to Balmoral as she takes up summer residence there

Until now, she had been staying in one of the other houses on the estate before the tourist season came to and end on 31 July and the main residence could be prepared for her arrival.

Dressed in a powder blue suit and hat trimmed with a statement bloom, she looked delighted with what she saw as the pipers struck up in her honour.

The Queen traditionally spends the entire summer in her Scottish residence, and is customarily joined for the whole duration by Prince Philip, with other members of the Royal family dropping in for portions of the break.

Philip is set to join the Queen at her private estate on Monday, after carrying out his first public engagement two months since he was admitted to the London Clinic on 6 June for exploratory abdominal surgery.

It will be the Duke of Edinburgh's first official engagement since the surgery.

Philip, 92, will travel to Edinburgh where he will hand out medals at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace said.

Others who may join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh include William and Kate, who it has been suggested may decide to holiday at Balmoral, travelling there from Bucklebury in Buckinghamshire where they are currently spending family time at the Middleton's mansion.

No wonder she's cheerful - the Queen will now remain at her beloved private estate until October

The Queen beamed as she was accompanied by Ballater Guard commanding officer Major Jules  Kilpatrick to inspects the Royal Scots Borderers at the gates to Balmoral

The Queen arrived at Balmoral on 27 July but stayed in another house on the estate while she waited for the tourist season to end on 31 July. The main residence was then secured so the Royals could move in

Crowds of local well-wishers gathered to welcome the Queen

Although the queen arrived in Scotland nearly a week ago (August 2nd), she has been staying in a house on the Balmoral estate while Balmoral Castle was being prepared for her