The Queen's annual visit to Balmoral is 'key for her sanity' royal expert Duncan Larcombe tells OK! Her Majesty has been paying a 12 week visit to the Scottish Highland estate for the past 68 years and Duncan explains that the escape is the one time she can take off her crown and be a mum, grandmother and great grandmother. "Balmoral plays a key part in the Queen's sanity," he explains.