Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May will be holidaying in Switzerland for two weeks starting today, nearly a month after assuming charge.
Unofficially referred to as the "silly season", the month of August marks holiday time in the UK political world.
"The Prime Minister will be taking a holiday in Switzerland and will be returning to the UK on August 24," a Downing Street spokesperson said.
May, 59, took charge as Prime Minister on July 13, following the resignation of David Cameron in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the European Union (EU).
May's choice of destination has sparked comparisons with Britain's first female PM, as shebecomes the first Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher to take a break in Switzerland.
She will be joined by her husband Philipon the Alps, where she has previously enjoyed walking trails.
In an article for the Daily Telegraph in August 2007, May had praised the region as a perfect holiday destination.
She said: "We first visited the country about 25 years ago but spent most of the time in Lucerne. On a return trip, we decided to go walking, enjoyed it and gradually began doing more adventurous hikes".
"We have been going back ever since and have walked all over the country," sge had said.
Despite being in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is not an EU member or a member of the European Economic Area, but signed its first free trade agreement with the EU in 1972.
In 1999 it signed an agreement on freedom of movement with the EU, and is an associate member of the Schengen passport-free area.
It is currently embroiled in long-running talks with the EU over how to implement a 2014 referendum result in which the Swiss people backed limiting immigration through quotas, including EU citizens.
Therefore, the country may symbolise a good neutral ground at the end of a hectic few weeks as the prime minister, when she sought to reassure the UK's neighbours after the Brexit vote on June 23.
The Prime Minister travelled to Scotland soon after taking over the top job for talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to show her commitment to preserving the UK.
She has also undertaken numerous foreign visits to speak with European leaders, including trips to Italy, France and Germany.
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