Psst: Balmoral Castle Is Officially Open to the Public
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The late Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite getaway, Balmoral Castle has long remained a mystery to the layperson—until now. Charles III is opening the doors of the historic building to the public for the first time ever, starting today.
Visitors will be able to take an extensive guided tour of the 167-room castle, including the entrance hall, red corridor, main and family dining rooms, page’s lobby, library, and drawing room. “You will learn about the origins of the castle and how it has been loved by generations of the royal family,” according to the castle’s website. “Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to present day, where you can see how rooms within the castle are used today by their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the royal family.”
Balmoral Castle is steeped in Scottish tradition, with numerous nods to its rich royal history. Prince Albert purchased the land in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and began building onto an existing castle for his wife, Queen Victoria. Since its completion in 1855, it has been handed down through generations of the royal family. It held a special place in the heart of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who spent nearly every summer of her life on the property. There, she had “the privacy to stroll with her corgis around the gardens, catch up on correspondence…go fly fishing on the river Dee or take in a round of golf on her private course,” as Jill O’Brien wrote for CNN in 2013.
Beyond serving as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of London life, the estate has also been a backdrop for many important moments for the royal family. There, Prince William and Prince Harry learned of the death of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. It was also, appropriately, where Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022.
Fancy visiting Balmoral Castle? Get in line. Tickets for the guided tours—priced at $125 or $200 with afternoon tea—sold out within a day of being released, reports BBC News. A lucky 40 people a day will be visiting from July 1 to August 4. For everyone else, the castle’s 50,000 acres of grounds, gardens, and exhibitions will be open through August 11. Afternoon tea will also be served in the castle’s restaurant or at one of the five cottages available for rent on the estate’s grounds.
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