Everything You Need to Know About Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle in Scotland has a longstanding history and is known as the holiday home of Queen Elizabeth II. The first residence was reportedly built at Balmoral in 1390, but it didn’t enter the hands of the British royal family until over 500 years later. According to Balmoral Castle’s website, Queen Victoria paid her first visit to Scotland in the fall of 1842 with her husband Prince Albert. She fell in love with the country estate, and the couple eventually purchased it in 1852. The single residence that was initially on the property was deemed too small for their growing family, so the royal couple demolished it and built a stately castle on the sprawling grounds. Today, the estate houses 150 buildings and is known for its beautiful architecture, sweeping gardens, and fascinating royal history. Here’s everything you need to know about Balmoral Castle.

Design and Architecture of Balmoral Castle

The castle was designed by Scottish architects John and William Smith. The father-son team drew up the plans around 1852, and the Scottish baronial and Gothic revival-style castle was officially completed in 1856. The building is reportedly constructed out of local granite and is organized into two sections with courtyards in the middle of each area. One of the most notable features of the castle is the 80-foot-tall turreted clocktower.

Though Balmoral Castle is located just 50 miles west of Aberdeen, it feels like a completely different world. The 50,000-acre estate lies in the valley of the River Dee in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains. The castle sits around 926 feet above sea level on a terrace, which offers commanding views of the estate’s sprawling landscape.

Historic Environment Scotland says, “Balmoral is a particularly fine example of a handsome country estate typical of the mid-19th-century with parkland, woodland, arboretum, woodland walks, shrubberies and gardens set within the dramatic backcloth and 'romantic' Highland scenery of the Dee Valley and the Grampians. References suggest that the landscape gardener James Beattie and the artist James Giles assisted Prince Albert with the design of the grounds and that the layout of many of the estate paths was designed for Queen Victoria.”

Balmoral Castle and the Royal Family

The British royal family has a storied history with Balmoral Castle. For starters, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Mountbatten spent their honeymoon at Birkhill Lodge, which is part of Balmoral Estate and home to Lord Mountbatten (Prince Philip’s maternal uncle).

In 1980, Prince Charles brought Princess Diana to spend a weekend with his family at Balmoral. It’s said that their relationship blossomed during that time, and just a year later they were married. After their Mediterranean honeymoon, the couple spent time at the hunting lodge near Balmoral where the rest of the family stayed. It was also at Balmoral, just 16 years later, that Prince Harry, and Prince William learned of their mother’s tragic and untimely death.

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth made news when she appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss from Balmoral Castle instead of traveling to Buckingham Palace for the occasion. This spurred rumors that the 96-year-old queen was unwell. Just a few days later, on September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth died peacefully surrounded by her family and medical team at Balmoral Castle.

Queen Elizabeth and Balmoral Castle

Each year, Queen Elizabeth II spent her summer holiday with her family at Balmoral Castle, and it’s widely thought that it was her favorite residence.

Princess Eugenie, the queen’s granddaughter, said in the documentary, Our Queen at Ninety, "I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands." She continued, “It’s 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.” Eugenie says that there were always “walks, picnics, dogs—a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs—and people coming in and out all the time.”

The queen reportedly loved spending her summer holidays at Balmoral because it was a private haven where the family could grill alfresco, explore the outdoors, ride horses, and take in the beautiful scenery away from the public eye.

Can You Visit Balmoral Castle?

When the royal family is staying at Balmoral Castle, it’s typically closed, but tours are available throughout the winter months. If you’d like to schedule a guided tour or find out more information, visit balmoralcastle.com.

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