Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire, is the royal family's go to holiday home, and the late Queen Elizabeth's much-loved personal residence in Scotland that's open to visitors in the summer.
If you believe scenes from The Crown, the Scottish palace has been the scene of terrifying 'tests' for new guests of the royal family, including Margaret Thatcher (who did not fare so well) and Lady Diana (who fared much better). But what really goes on at this idyllic expanse, which has been in the royal family for more than 160 years?
The Balmoral estate was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, after the couple fell in love with the local countryside. Ever since, it has been passed on to successive generations of the royal family, playing host to its fair share of shenanigans, scandals and secrets. Here’s everything you need to know about this royal retreat.
At about 50,000 acres, Balmoral is so large, it’s almost its own ecosystem: mountains, forests, valleys, arable pastures, lochs, grouse moors, and gardens make up the varied topography. There are also 150 buildings on the estate, including King Charles III's house at Birkhall, Craigowan Lodge, and several other cottages (one reportedly is a secret hideaway of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).
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Balmoral is a working estate — deer stalking, grouse shooting, forestry, and farming all take place on the land. Queen Elizabeth II often used to ride on horseback or drive her beloved Range Rover over its rugged terrain — occasionally with terrified dignitaries inside. The rest of the family enjoys fishing, hunting, picnicking, and barbecuing, and Prince Philip was allegedly quite the grill-master during summer months.
British monarchs aren't the only protected residents; endangered red squirrels whose home is the Scottish Highlands also haunt the estate, And, if you’re so inclined, you can watch them eat nuts and frolic around the estate via a live feed. There's plenty of royal frolicking too: Balmoral has hosted some spectacular royal soirees. Prince Harry had his 32nd birthday party there, and shooting parties with glamorous guests are a regular occurrence.
“Walks, picnics, dogs — a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs — and people coming in and out all the time,” Princess Eugenie said of Balmoral in an interview. “It [was] a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.”
That’s not to say everyone who goes to Balmoral enjoys it. Tony Blair said his visits were “a vivid combination of the intriguing, the surreal, and the utterly freaky,” and remembered consuming drinks with the strength of “true rocket fuel,” which presumably helped. Margaret Thatcher didn’t fare much better: one official told the Guardian “she couldn’t get away fast enough.”
In the 1980s, Balmoral was the place where Princess Diana and Prince Charles had their honeymoon (although reports suggest it wasn’t quite the romantic getaway one might have imagined). But, as Prince Harry and Prince William revealed in the HBO documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, it’s also the place they last spoke to their mother before she died in a tragic car crash.
Balmoral is open to the public during the months of April through July, where visitors can stroll through gardens and peek into the castle’s grand ballroom. Those looking for the full royal treatment can book one of the several guest cottages on the grounds (corgis not included). From July, it shuts its doors so that the King and his family can retreat there for August and beyond.
Where is Balmoral Castle?
Address: Balmoral Estates, Ballater AB35 5TB
The Scottish castle can be found between two small, mountainous villages in Aberdeenshire, Braemar (where you'll find the art lover's favourite, Fife Arms hotel) and Crathie, about 50 miles west of Aberdeen.
Who owns Balmoral Castle?
In short, King Charles III. Balmoral has been a private family possession since the 1850s, when the present building was erected by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
