Former Queen’s police guard reveals top UK spots to live it up like a royal

He spent 10 years travelling across the UK with the Queen and the rest of the royal family as part of their specialist security team, and now former police inspector David Lombardi has opened up on the family’s favourite spots across the country, from walks to picnic areas and more.

Whether you want to experience a true royal lifestyle on your next holiday, or you simply fancy a chance at spotting Prince Charles, Camilla, the dukes and duchesses or even the monarch herself face to face, David, 58, has shared his top tips with Travel at 60 for an authentic royal experience.

Topping the Queen’s wish list for a relaxing break is her estate and castle at Balmoral in Scotland, where she travels every year for the UK summer months between July and September.

Here she indulges in lavish picnics, country walks and horse rides, as well as a glamorous ball especially for her staff and closest relatives.

“The Queen and Prince Charles usually stay up there for the whole [UK] summer period, but the other royals come and visit for a week or so at a time,” David explained.

“Prince Charles has a separate house on the Balmoral estate called Birkhall, so he’d go out on a daily basis with Camilla for walks in the mountains nearby.”

David said the best chance of seeing them there is either at Crathie Kirk church, where they spend almost every Sunday, or at Loch Muick – a stunning lake surrounded by mountains where they love to enjoy a picnic.

“It’s where they sit and have picnics as a family during the summer, and the public are allowed to walk past them there,” he explained.

“If the Queen’s eating her sandwiches and you suddenly walk over, someone will probably have something to say, but you can walk past and see them – it’s a public pathway, a right to roam.”

He added: “Balmoral is primarily their holiday spot every summer. It’s where they go to relax and get away.”

David worked in the royal protection group of the Metropolitan Police – a specialised unit in charge of the royals’ security – for 10 years, having previously worked in a similar role for government ministers.

The job meant he travelled extensively with the Queen and Prince Philip, often spending a whole month at a time with them in Balmoral over summer – getting to know their habits and hobbies well.

Now working as a tour leader for travel company Back-Roads Touring, which offers tours ‘off the beaten track’, he has even created a specific tour of his own to offer tourists the best chance of spotting a member of the family.

While the Queen will remain on her private estate for much of her stay in Balmoral, David said the rest of the family often venture out into the nearby town of Ballater or up into the mountains on country walks.

“It’s the wilderness of Scotland and Aberdeenshire,” he said. “The royals are there almost on a daily basis when they’re staying there.”

Prince Charles has even written a children’s book about Lochnagar, a lake and mountainous region in the area, which David said is a favourite spot of Charles’.

“Of course you can’t guarantee you’ll see them, they don’t picnic every day. So I don’t tell people they’ll see them in case they don’t, and it remains a lovely surprise,” he said.

Asked about the Queen’s personal hobbies there, he added: “She likes to go riding out on the estate, having visitors, country walks. They’re there to relax. It’s usually low key.”

Meanwhile, outside of the summer months, David explained the monarch will usually spend Monday to Thursday in Buckingham Palace – treating it like her office – before travelling to Windsor Castle on weekends.

The castle towers over the beautiful town itself, which is the perfect spot to indulge in a lunch or dinner by the river and soak up the royal atmosphere.

“It’s good to have a tour round the castle and then have lunch in the numerous places around Windsor. There are loads, all along the river,” David said.

“They don’t really eat out themselves, certainly the senior members of the family, they’d never just nip out and go to a local restaurant. That’s far too much hassle and presents security risks.”

Read more: Living like locals: Bagpipes and Britannia in Scotland

Elsewhere, Her Majesty usually spends a month over Easter in Windsor, while she’ll be joined every Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk by the rest of her family – where she’ll stay for two months with her husband Prince Philip.

The estate itself may be private, but much like Balmoral, the surrounding areas are beautiful and it’s always possible to spot the family at their annual church services over the festive period if that’s when you’ve chosen to travel to the UK.

To join in one of David’s royal tours with Back-Roads Touring, visit the website here.