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It was love at first sight, a feeling that has been passed down through generations. Queen Victoria bought Balmoral Castle in 1848, and it took her only a few minutes to call it her “beloved paradise in the Highlands.” Every one of her descendants, including King Charles III, has made that description their own. For the King, it’s impossible to think of summer without mentioning this stunning estate. Once again, everything is ready to welcome the Royal Family to this fortress in the Dee Valley, where the Windsors have lived some of their happiest—and also saddest—days.
The gates have now closed to visitors to mark the start of the private holidays, a few days of rest during which the Royal Family has plenty to celebrate: from Kate Middleton’s positive recovery to the upcoming wedding that will bring them together, that of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling. Princess Anne’s eldest son is engaged to his girlfriend after a year of dating, as HELLO!—the UK edition of ¡HOLA!—revealed a few days ago.
For the second year in a row, as a gesture of transparency and openness, King Charles III has opened the doors of this retreat to the public—a place where the Windsors become just another family enjoying outdoor plans. Prince William, heir to the throne, once called his grandfather the king of the barbecue. When the weather is pleasant, they like to picnic and go fishing. There are also options for the more adventurous, including hiking trails, horseback riding, and spotting wildlife such as deer, golden eagles, rare squirrels, and wild salmon in their natural habitat.
Balmoral and the heartbreaking news of Princess Diana’s death
The Highlands castle has witnessed some of their most difficult moments. In the summer of 1997, the Royal Family learned of Princess Diana’s death while at Balmoral. Prince Harry recounts it in his memoir Spare. The Duke of Sussex writes that his father sat beside his bed and told him that his mother had been in an accident and hadn’t survived her injuries, despite efforts to save her. “Everything will be alright,” he said. Prince William and Harry stayed indoors for several days while King Charles III and two of his maternal aunts traveled to Paris to accompany Diana’s body on its final journey back to the UK, where she was laid to rest on September 6, 1997, at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II’s final days at Balmoral
This vast estate, with 200,000 square meters of land, was also the setting for another historic moment: the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022. "My late mother especially treasured the time spent at Balmoral, and it was there, in the most beloved of places, where she chose to spend her final days," King Charles III said. Just two days before her passing at age 96, she made her last public appearance, receiving Prime Minister Liz Truss in these very rooms.
Her body was placed in the castle’s ballroom, where her children and grandchildren kept vigil in complete privacy. She was later moved to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, then to St. Giles’ Cathedral, and finally to London for her state funeral on September 19. She was laid to rest in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor.
Spending her last days at Balmoral carried a special meaning for Queen Elizabeth II. She had a deep affection for the castle, cherishing the time she could spend outdoors riding horses, playing with her beloved corgis, driving her Land Rover, and even doing simple tasks like washing the dishes after meals. Balmoral was also her favorite place to welcome and host her family, offering them peace, privacy, and endless open space. She once remarked that you could travel for miles without seeing another soul, a freedom she treasured. This was also the place where Prince Philip proposed to her and where the couple began their married life, spending their honeymoon in 1947.
At Balmoral, she was not only the Queen but also a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.