Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s Scottish retreat since the 1850s, is being opened to the public for the first time in its history.
From Monday, visitors can take a guided tour of some of the Aberdeenshire castle entrance hall, red hallway, main and family dining rooms, entrance hall, library and living room.
“The public that got tickets will leave [having seen] the royal family’s holiday home. That’s exactly what it is, it feels very homey,” said James Hamilton Goddard, Balmoral Estate’s visitor business manager.
Charles is the latest in a long line of kings and queens to add their own stamp to Balmoral since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert built the castle in the 1850s.
“It’s a magnificent place, I think the King wants people to see [it]” said Hamilton Goddard.
Inside the castle
The king changed the room’s carpets back to Hunting Stewart tartan, which was the original style of floor covering that Queen Victoria had installed in the castle.
He also hung paintings by Victorian artist Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, who was also loved by Queen Victoria.
Sir Landseer is best known for creating the lions at the base of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square and was invited to Balmoral every summer to teach painting to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The Balmoral Castle library used by King Charles as his work office. Photo: PA
The castle’s library, which was once Queen Victoria’s breakfast and lunch room, is now used by the King as his work office. He received dignitaries from all over the world.
Books on the shelves include tomes on Scottish history – especially the Highland clans – Albert’s speeches, as well as novels and books on poetry and art.
Hamilton Goddard said the library is “possibly one of the most beautiful rooms in the entire residence.”
Fireplace flanked by warriors with oak cornice, it is the only element of the castle recovered from the original castle and dating back to the 1830s. Photo: PA
Visitors can see the driver’s whistle used in later years to summon the driver and the dinner gong used to summon guests to Balmoral. The gong is made from materials salvaged from the Temeraire, the British warship that fought in the Battle of Trafalgar.
Tickets for the guided tours, priced at £100 or £150 with afternoon tea, sold out within 24 hours of going on sale, with 40 people allowed to visit the royal residence each day from July 1 to July 4 August.
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The opening takes place before the King and Queen arrive at Balmoral for their summer holidays, but there is a royal touch for cake and sandwich eaters.
At the request of King Charles, tea will be served to visitors in a replica of the White Stewart Tartan China used by the royal family at Balmoral.
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Previously, visitors could only visit the Balmoral Ballroom and castle grounds, and the new tour will include a visit to the ballroom where Victoria performed dances and the Royal Family still holds Ghillies Balls to entertain the staff.
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