If you haven’t been to Balmoral Castle, now’s the time: the royal site reopening this spring

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September, she spent her final days at Balmoral Castle, her favorite place. The renowned Scottish estate, which spans 50,000 acres, has just announced that it will be reopening for the first time since the monarch's passing, in anticipation of King Charles III's coronation on May 6, 2023. Balmoral Castle has been open to the public for guided tours of its grounds, gardens, and exhibitions every spring and summer since 1931, although the estate itself remains closed. 

Beginning on Saturday, April 1, visitors will be able to enjoy these excursions once again. This year, the castle will feature a special photographic exhibit titled "Monarchs of Balmoral," as announced on social media. Additionally, outside the main gates, there will be a floral tribute to the late Queen where visitors may leave items in her honor.

Balmoral Castle, one of two private properties owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II, is unlike other official royal residences that are owned by the Crown Estate. Sandringham Estate in Norfolk is the second private property owned by the Queen. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria originally purchased Balmoral in 1852, and it was later passed down through the family. In a 2016 documentary titled Our Queen at Ninety, Princess Eugenie described the country home as the "most beautiful place on earth," adding that the late Queen loves the Highlands. 

According to Princess Eugenie in the documentary Our Queen At Ninety, Balmoral Castle in Scotland was believed to be the favorite residence of Queen Elizabeth, where she spent her summer holidays. "I think Granny is most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands," said Princess Eugenie.

Prince Harry recounts a memory of his grandfather in the kitchen in his memoir, Spare. He describes his grandpa tending to his grill at the back of the lodge, already there half an hour before them, and standing amid a thick cloud of smoke with tears streaming from his eyes. His grandfather wore a flat cap, which he took off now and then to mop his brow or smack a fly. As fillets of venison sizzled, he turned them with a huge pair of tongs and then put on a loop of Cumberland sausages. Harry often asked his grandpa to make his specialty spaghetti Bolognese, but for some reason, he didn't on this particular night.

The history of Balmoral Castle

The original dwelling at Balmoral dates back to 1390, but it wasn't until 1852 when Prince Albert bought the estate as a present for his wife, Queen Victoria, who was particularly fond of the Scottish countryside. 

However, when the original residence was deemed too small, the royal couple constructed a new castle, which is the one that stands today, to accommodate their growing family. The new castle was completed in 1856, and the old building was dismantled. The estate now covers 50,000 acres and boasts a total of 150 structures. 

Balmoral has played a role in more recent royal history, such as serving as the location for Prince Charles and Princess Diana's uneventful honeymoon, and as the place where Prince Harry and Prince William were informed of their mother's tragic death in 1997. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth chose to stay at Balmoral to appoint a new prime minister, Liz Truss, rather than traveling to Buckingham Palace in London for the occasion.

Tickets for Balmoral Castle's 2023 season, which runs from April 1 to July 31, are available for purchase online. Adult admission is priced at £16.50 while children aged five to 16 can enter for £8.50. A family ticket for two adults and up to three children is available for £35.00.