Balmoral Castle: A royal retreat in the Scottish Highlands

Balmoral Castle became part of royal life in 1848 when Prince Albert leased the estate for Queen Victoria. He bought it later and had a new castle built. The original house was too small. The new one was finished in 1856. It used granite from the area and followed the Scottish Baronial style.

Victoria and Albert spent time there each year. They wore tartan, joined local events, and made changes to the land. Albert planted trees and brought in farming ideas. After he died in 1861, Victoria returned often. She had a monument built for him, and Balmoral became her quiet place.

Reception of the Emperor and Empress of Russia at Balmoral (public domain)

Later kings kept up the tradition with King Edward VII, King George V, and King George VI spending summers there. During World War II, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were sent to Balmoral because it was far from London and gave the family space.

In 1997, Balmoral played an important role in one of the saddest moments for the Royal Family. Many members of the family were staying at Balmoral when Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were there with their father and found out they had lost their mother while at the castle. The family hunkered down there and used the privacy of Balmoral to allow the boys time to grieve. There was some public criticism of this decision, but both the Queen and Charles wanted to provide William and Harry time for mourning away from the public eye.

Queen Elizabeth II returned every summer. She walked her dogs, rode horses, and hosted family visits. Many members of her family would visit during the late summer months. In 2022, Balmoral again was the setting for history as the Queen died there in September. Her reign ended in the place she had used as a sanctuary for decades.

Currently, Balmoral is still used and loved by the royal family. Charles and Camilla go there, especially in the late summer. They have opened some parts of Balmoral to visitors, allowing a glimpse into life there. For more than two centuries, Balmoral has been a favourite royal retreat and a site of historic events.