Balmoral Castle, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has been part of the Royal Family for over 150 years now.
It is famously known for being the countryside retreat for Queen Elizabeth II, which she visited every year with Prince Philip during their marriage. As a result of his passing in April, 2021 marked the first year that the Queen visited the grounds as a widow. So, what else is there to know about the royal residence? Here, we look at five facts you may not know.
History
The Balmoral Estate was built in 1390 by Sir William Drummond and was formerly owned by King Robert II. In the 15th century, the estate was sold to Alexander Gordon, the third Earl of Huntly.
In 1662, the estate was passed to Charles Farquharson of Inverey. He was a Jacobite sympathiser and was involved in rebellions from the 1700s. In 1798, James Duff purchased Balmoral and leased the castle to Sir Robert Gordon in 1830.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
In 1852, after visiting Scotland and falling in love with the Highlands, Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle for his wife, Queen Victoria, for a cost of £32,000 which equates to £4.7 million today.
As parents of nine children, Victoria and Albert decided that the castle was too small for their needs and so they hired architect William Smith to reconstruct the property. The Castle was completed in 1856 and the old building was demolished. Queen Victoria resided at the castle until her death in 1901. The Royal Family continued to use the home during annual visits.
Construction
The Balmoral Estate, located within the Cairngorms National Park, is over 50,000 acres and includes grouse moors, agricultural land and forests. The castle is built from granite and reportedly has 52 bedrooms, alongside many reception rooms. There are over 150 buildings on the estate, including Craigowan Lodge which was often used by Prince Charles and Princess Diana when they visited Balmoral.
Queen Elizabeth II
Balmoral Castle is now owned by Queen Elizabeth II and although she does not live there permanently, it is her main residence. The Queen and her late husband, Prince Philip, spent twelve weeks during summer and early autumn residing at Balmoral Castle each year.
Many other members of the Royal Family, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Eugenie and her sister Prince Beatrice, visit the Queen at Balmoral during the summer. When visiting the castle, the royal family enjoys a relaxed break away without worrying about their royal duties.
Public Access
Since 1931, the castle gardens have been open daily for public visits between April and the end of July, which is when the Queen arrives for her annual stay. There is a gift shop and a cafe for the public to use during their visit, and they are also able to enter one room in the Castle: the Ballroom.
This year, the Queen will celebrate an incredible seventy years of reign. To celebrate, we have released a series of sovereigns which focus on her greatest personal qualities that have resulted in her becoming such a remarkable monarch. You can purchase this range HERE.
