Charles III retires to his beloved Highgrove estate – after dropping Camilla at her Wiltshire mansion – as the new monarch is afforded 24 hours of contemplation during the hectic schedule of events leading up to his mother's funeral on Monday
King Charles and the Queen Consort's helicopter lands in Wiltshire following the royal procession in London
The pair were spotted landing in Camilla's Ray Mill House in Reybridge near Lacock, a village in Wiltshire
The King was then seen driving himself away to travel the 30-minute journey to his home Highgrove House
He will have a private day of reflection and is not expected to attend any public events on Thursday
The day away from public spotlight has always formed part of London Bridge plans in wake of Queen's death
But Charles expected to continue working preparation for new role and will receive red boxes of state papers
Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
By Eirian Jane Prosser and Jamie Phillips For Mailonline
Published: 14:56 EDT, 14 September 2022 | Updated: 17:01 EDT, 14 September 2022
King Charles III and the Queen Consort have left London and returned to their respective homes after days of public events paying tribute to the Queen - as the new monarch is granted 24 hours to contemplate his mother's death ahead of her funeral on Monday.
The royal couple were seen landing in Camilla's estate in Reybridge near Lacock, Wiltshire at around 4.30pm this afternoon, shortly after leaving the late Queen's procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster.
The Royal aircraft landed in a field alongside the Queen Consort's home, Ray Mill House. The landing was welcomed by an audience of just three people in contrast to the huge number of people seen waiting at Royal residences across Britain this week as the grieving family arrived.
It is believed to be the first time the King and Queen Consort have returned to their Wiltshire and Gloucestershire estates since travelling to Balmoral Castle on Thursday hours before the Queen's death.
The King is expected to have a private day of reflection following the the momentous period that saw him become monarch. He is not expected to attend any public events on Thursday.
The day away from public duties has always formed part of the London Bridge operation - the detailed plan in the event of the Queen's death.
The time away from the spotlight will allow Charles to pause and reflect on the time that has passed since his mother's death at Balmoral on Thursday.
But he is expected to continue working preparation for his new role and will be receiving red boxes of state papers, The Mirror reports.
The period will allow the King to pause, but it is understood he will be working in preparation for his new role and will already be receiving his red boxes of state papers.
It comes after Charles was joined by his three siblings and sons William and Harry as they reunited to mourn as they walked in procession behind the late Queen's coffin as it made its way to the Palace of Westminster today.
The helicopter landed in a field next door to Camilla's Wiltshire residence, Ray Mill House (pictured). It is thought that Camilla will continue residing at the home, which is not an official part of the Royal estate, as she has done for years
It is thought that Camilla will continue residing at Ray Mill House, which is not an official part of the Royal estate, as she has done for years.
She purchased the £850,000 property after divorcing her first husband Andrew Parker Bowles in 1994 and she lived there permanently from 1996 to 2003.
Shortly after the chopper landed in Wiltshire, Charles could be seen driving himself away from the estate, accompanied by The Met's Special Escort Group. It is believed he then made the 30-minute drive to his home, Highgrove House (pictured), near Tetbury in Gloucestershire
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