The Queen is said to be planning an exciting post-lockdown summer getaway

The Queen is said to be planning an exciting summer getaway next month.

• Queen Elizabeth II is reportedly planning an exciting trip to make the most of what’s left of summer.
• The monarch could be looking to get away to Balmoral later in the summer after months of being in lockdown.
• In other royal news (opens in new tab), the Duchess of Cornwall has shared a rare glimpse inside her personal life (opens in new tab) at home with Prince Charles.

Queen Elizabeth II (opens in new tab) could be planning an exciting trip for later this summer.

For months, the monarch has been shut up in self-isolating in Windsor Castle with husband Prince Philip.

The coronavirus lockdown has meant that the monarch has been unable to carry out her usual summer visit to Scottish Highlands retreat Balmoral.

However, royal sources have revealed that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will head up to the Scottish holiday home whenever lockdown restrictions on over-70s are lifted.

The couple are expected to be able to stop shielding around 1st August, which is the same when tourists are expected to be allowed back into Windsor Castle.

“Preparations are well under way,” an insider revealed to the Sun.

“Everything will be checked and double-checked to ensure there is no risk,” the source continued.

MORE: Why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were ‘prepared’ for lockdown together (opens in new tab)

"But it has also helped planning that Scotland has been free of coronavirus deaths for almost a week now.”

Throughout her 68-year reign, the Queen has spent 12 weeks every summer at the highland retreat, where different family members and important figures have visited her to enjoy relaxed activities and outdoor antics.

The news comes just days after the Queen set up a lovely tribute to the NHS at one of her other royal residences (opens in new tab).

The gardens of Buckingham Palace saw two long flowerbeds erected around a section of the garden that read ‘NHS’.

‘The gardeners have done a fantastic job on the flower beds outside #BuckinghamPalace,’ read the Royal Parks Instagram account.

‘All ready to say #ThankYouTogether to our amazing @NHSuk on Sunday. #NHSBirthday’.