Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip could end up confined to Balmoral Estate during summer holidays

After months locked away at Windsor Castle, "shielding" amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have made their way to Balmoral.

However, the monarch and Duke of Edinburgh could be back in the same boat during their summer holidays, as Scotland begins lockdowns amid fears of a second wave.

Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, announced a new lockdown in Aberdeen yesterday, with the possibility of wider-spread restrictions to come if cases continue to rise.

The news came just hours after the royals landed at Aberdeen Airport, an hour's drive from their summer home.

All bars and restaurants in the city, located approximately 76kms from Balmoral Castle, have been ordered to close by 5pm but non-essential shops have been allowed to remain open.

Residents within the city are not allowed to step into other people's homes, and leisure travel is capped at an 8km radius.

Given their ages, Her Majesty, 94, and Philip, 99, may be forced to shield again to protect themselves.

However, the elderly couple will still have plenty of space to get fresh air, their summer residence covering an area of approximately 50,000 acres.

The Queen has spent three months at Balmoral every summer of her 68-year reign.

It understood Her Majesty will remain there for the next 12 weeks.

Prince Charles and Camilla saw out the initial nation-wide lockdowns at Birkhall, their residence on the Balmoral Estate, staying there from March till June.