The Scottish estate is said to be a ‘cherished home’ for the Royal Family.
King Charles has highlighted the importance of Balmoral to the Royal Family, saying is holds a “uniquely special place” in their hearts. Located in Aberdeenshire, the estate has been in the Royal Family since 1852 when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert.
Writing in foreword in a new 80-page guidebook, the King describes the Scottish estate as a “cherished home” of his family, that boasts a “precious, almost sacred, surrounding landscape” along with “startling individuality”.
Over a century ago, Queen Victoria fell in love with the Highlands of Scotland and decided to build a castle on the land. Over the decades, Balmoral has been used as a summer retreat for the Royal Family, with many kings and queens adding their own stamp to the castle and its grounds.
Balmoral also became the property where the late Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days in 2022. After serving as the sovereign for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth passed away on September 8, aged 96.
Writing in the new paperback guide, Charles wrote: “Balmoral has been the cherished Scottish home of my family since the estate was purchased by Prince Albert, my great-great-great-grandfather, in 1852.
“With its buildings of startling individuality, which never fail to fascinate, and its precious, almost sacred, surrounding landscape, it is a place where there is constant change, yet everything remains unaltered, with a sense of timelessness which refreshes the soul.
“Since my earliest childhood, it has held, and continues to hold, a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself, and my late mother particularly treasured her time at Balmoral. It was here, in these most beloved of surroundings, that she chose to spend her final days.”
Concluding, he added: “Whatever the circumstances in which you are reading this book, I hope that you, too, will be inspired by the rich complexity of the architecture and share in the magic of the surrounding countryside, whose ‘wild and majestic’ landscape has been the source of inspiration and enjoyment for so many.”
Alongside the foreword, the guidebook opens with an image of a watercolour of the Scottish castle, which was painted by Charles in 1989.
In the past, the only part of the Balmoral that was open to the public to visit was the ballroom, which is home to a different exhibition every year.
However, in July 2024, the King opened the castle to the public for the first time in 170 years and has notably made a number of changes to the gardens and the interior.
It is not only the Royal Family who have taken up residence in the castle as prime ministers are traditionally invited to stay with the Firm at Balmoral during the summer. It is said that Harold Wilson even joined members of the family for riverside picnics on the estate as he “got on like a house on fire” with Queen Elizabeth II.
The new guidebook, written by journalist and historian Mary Miers and titled Balmoral, shares some insights into the recent changes that have been made to the property. For instance, the King has introduced more furniture, carpets, paintings and objects, many from the Royal Collection, into the castle.
Meanwhile, outside the wrought-iron gates in the Queen Mary’s garden were remodelled in 2023 to celebrate the centenary of its creation, with Charles and Camilla cyphers included to mark their coronation. It is also noted that the King decided to replace the ballroom lawn with an intricate maze to reflect his interest in geometric patterns.
Ms Miers said: “Balmoral will forever be associated with Victoria and Albert’s love affair with the Highlands, but there’s so much more to the story, which I hope this guidebook reveals.
“Now that Balmoral is more publicly accessible, it’s possible to appreciate how central the Prince Consort’s interests in architecture, design, landscaping and estate management were to its creation, and how effectively the King, who shares these passions, has added a new layer of interest and style, while preserving and enhancing the original.”

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