Balmoral Castle facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle from the south lawn
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Royal residence
Architectural style	Scots baronial revival
Location	Aberdeenshire
Address	Balmoral Estate Ballater AB35 5TB
Country	Scotland
Coordinates	57°2′27″N 3°13′48″W / 57.04083°N 3.23000°W / 57.04083; -3.23000
Construction started	1853; 172 years ago (1853)
Completed	1856; 169 years ago (1856)
Owner	King Charles III
Height
Architectural	30.48 m (100 ft 0 in) (Great Tower)
Technical details
Material	Granite and slate
Floor count	Largely two- and three-storey
Design and construction
Architect	William Smith (City Architect of Aberdeen)
Developer	Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Other designers	John Thomas (Sculptor)
Main contractor	M Stuart

Listed Building – Category A
Official name	Balmoral Castle with Parterre and Terrace Walls
Designated	12 March 2010
Reference no.	LB51460

Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Official name	Balmoral Castle
Designated	1 July 1987
Reference no.	GDL00045

Balmoral Castle is a large country house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is a special home for the British royal family. You can find it near the village of Crathie, about 9 miles (14 km) west of Ballater.

The land and its first castle were bought in 1852 by Prince Albert. He was the husband of Queen Victoria. The old house was too small, so a new Balmoral Castle was built. William Smith designed it, with ideas from Prince Albert.

Balmoral is still owned by the monarch, not by the government. It was the summer home of Queen Elizabeth II. She passed away there on September 8, 2022.

The castle is built in a style called Scottish baronial architecture. It was finished in 1856, and the old castle was taken down soon after.

Over the years, the royal family has added more land to the Balmoral Estate. It now covers about 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares). It's a working estate with forests, farms, and herds of deer, Highland cattle, sheep, and ponies.

What Does "Balmoral" Mean?
History of Balmoral Castle
Castle Architecture
Who Owns Balmoral?
The Balmoral Estate
See also

What Does "Balmoral" Mean?

The name Balmoral is pronounced "bal-MOR-al". It was first written as 'Bouchmorale' in 1451. Local people who spoke Scottish Gaelic called it "ba-VOR-al".

The first part of the name might come from the Gaelic word both, meaning "a hut". The second part is not as clear. Some think it means "big spot of ground". Others believe it might come from an old Pictish word for "big clearing".

History of Balmoral Castle

After 1830, Sir Robert Gordon made big changes to the first castle.

King Robert II (1316–1390) had a hunting lodge in this area. Records show that a house at Balmoral was built in 1390. Later, the estate was rented by the Gordon family, who built a tower house there.

In 1662, the estate went to the Farquharson family. They supported the Jacobite rebellions in 1715 and 1745. After the rebellions, the Farquharson lands were taken away.

In 1798, James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife, bought Balmoral. Later, Sir Robert Gordon leased it in 1830. He made many changes to the original castle. He added parts in the baronial style, designed by John Smith.

The Royal Family Buys Balmoral

Balmoral Castle in the 1860s.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited Scotland in 1842. They loved it and returned in 1844 and 1847. During their 1847 trip, it rained a lot. The queen's doctor suggested Deeside for its healthier weather.

Sir Robert Gordon passed away in 1847. Prince Albert then arranged to take over the lease for Balmoral in 1848. He hadn't even seen the property yet!

The royal couple arrived on September 8, 1848. Victoria wrote in her diary that the house was "small but pretty." She felt "freedom and peace" there. The hills reminded them of Albert's home in Germany.

Soon, they realized the house was too small for their growing family and staff. In 1848, John and William Smith were asked to design new buildings. They also improved the gardens and forests.

Prince Albert saw a special metal cottage at the Great Exhibition of 1851. He ordered one for Balmoral to use as a temporary ballroom. It was ready by October 1851.

The sale of Balmoral was completed in June 1852 for £32,000. Prince Albert officially took over that autumn. They also bought the nearby Birkhall estate. To celebrate, they built the "Purchase Cairn" on a hill overlooking the castle. This was the first of many stone piles (cairns) on the estate.

Building the New Castle

Balmoral Castle – The main tower is the central part of the castle. A large country house with small towers is attached.

The royal family needed more space for themselves, their staff, and visitors. So, they decided to build a bigger house. In early 1852, William Smith was chosen as the architect. He was the city architect of Aberdeen. Prince Albert also added his own ideas to the designs, especially for the towers and windows.

Balmoral Castle, drawn by Queen Victoria in 1854 while it was being built.

Construction started in mid-1853. The new castle was built about 100 yards (91 meters) from the old one. This way, the family could still use the old house during construction. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone on September 28, 1853.

By autumn 1855, the royal family could move into their new rooms. The main tower was still being built. The new house was finished in 1856, and the old castle was taken down. A new bridge across the River Dee was also built in 1857.

Balmoral Castle, painted by James Cassie.

Balmoral Castle is made from granite stone from the estate. It has two main parts, each built around a courtyard. The main rooms are in the southwest part, and the service areas are in the northeast. There's an 80-foot (24-meter) tall clock tower with small turrets.

The royal family's choice to buy a Scottish estate and use a Scottish architectural style helped make Highland culture more popular. They decorated Balmoral with tartans and went to highland games. Queen Victoria loved Scotland. This helped make the monarchy feel more connected to all of Britain.

Victoria and Albert at Balmoral

Life in the Highlands quickly became a routine for the royal couple. Victoria enjoyed long walks, and Albert spent many days hunting. In 1849, a diarist named Charles Greville said their life at Balmoral was like that of regular wealthy people, not royalty.

Victoria hired artists to paint Balmoral, its surroundings, and the staff. Many painters worked there over the years, including Edwin and Charles Landseer.

During the 1850s, new trees were planted around the house. Prince Albert was very involved in these projects. He designed gardens and planned farm buildings. He even created a model dairy in 1861, the year he passed away. Victoria finished the dairy.

After Albert's death, Victoria spent more and more time at Balmoral. She would stay for up to four months a year. She displayed many things that reminded her of Albert. She also built monuments to him on the estate, including a pyramid-shaped stone pile (cairn).

Few other changes were made to the grounds. Victoria started to rely on her servant, John Brown. He was a local guide (ghillie) from Crathie. He became a very close friend during her long time of sadness.

In 1887, Balmoral Castle was the birthplace of Victoria Eugenie, Queen Victoria's granddaughter. She later became the queen of Spain.

In September 1896, Victoria welcomed Emperor Nicholas II of Russia and Empress Alexandra to Balmoral. Alexandra was also Victoria's granddaughter. Victoria made her last visit to the estate in 1900, three months before she passed away in 1901.

Balmoral around 1890–1900.
A memorial stone pile (cairn) for Prince Albert on the Balmoral Estate.
Queen Victoria's Business Room at Balmoral.

After Queen Victoria

After Victoria's death, the royal family kept using Balmoral for their autumn visits. George V made big improvements in the 1910s and 1920s, adding formal gardens.

During World War II, royal visits to Balmoral stopped. Some buildings were renamed because of the war.

In the 1950s, Prince Philip added new gardens. In the 1980s, new buildings for staff were built near the castle.

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II had been at Balmoral Castle since July 2022 for her summer holiday. She was receiving medical care there. On September 6, 2022, Liz Truss was appointed British Prime Minister at Balmoral. This was unusual, as it usually happens at Buckingham Palace. It was done at Balmoral because of the Queen's health.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral on September 8, 2022, at age 96. She was the first monarch to die at Balmoral. It was also the first time a monarch had died in Scotland since 1542.

The Queen's coffin stayed in the castle's ballroom for three days. This allowed the Royal Family, staff, and neighbors to say goodbye. On September 11, the coffin was taken to Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. This was the start of the state funeral events.

Castle Architecture

The covered entrance (porte cochère) at Balmoral Castle. It protects guests from bad weather.

Even though it's called a castle, Balmoral is mostly a country house. It's a typical Victorian country house. The tall tower and "pepper pot turrets" are key features of its Scottish baronial style. The seven-story tower is like the old defensive tower houses. The "pepper pot" turrets were inspired by French castles from the 1500s. Other features include stepped gables and special windows.

Who Owns Balmoral?

Northwest corner of Balmoral Castle.

Balmoral is private property. It is not owned by the Crown, which means it's not part of the official royal properties that belong to the nation. Prince Albert bought it privately for Queen Victoria. So, money from the estate does not go to the government.

Edward VIII inherited Balmoral when he became king in 1936. When he stepped down later that year, he kept ownership. His brother, George VI, then bought Balmoral and Sandringham House from him.

Elizabeth II inherited Balmoral from her father. After she passed away, ownership went to her eldest son, King Charles III. The estate is managed by special trustees.

The Balmoral Estate

Size and How it Works

The Balmoral Estate is inside the Cairngorms National Park. It covers about 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares). The land includes everything from the Dee river valley to open mountains. There are seven Munros (Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet or 914 meters tall) on the estate. The highest is Lochnagar.

Lochnagar was the setting for a children's story called The Old Man of Lochnagar. Prince Charles first told this story to his younger brothers. It was published in 1980, and the money earned went to The Prince's Trust.

Red deer stag near Glas-allt-Shiel lodge on the Balmoral estate.

The estate also includes the 7,500-acre (3,000-hectare) Delnadamph Lodge estate. Queen Elizabeth II bought it in 1978.

The estate reaches Loch Muick in the southeast. There you can find an old boat house and a royal hunting lodge called Glas-allt-Shiel, built by Victoria.

Balmoral is a working estate. It has areas for hunting grouse, forests, and farmland. It also manages herds of deer, Highland cattle, and ponies. Visitors can go fishing (for a fee) and hiking during certain times of the year.

About 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of the estate are covered by trees. Nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) are used for forestry, producing a lot of wood each year. Ballochbuie Forest is one of the largest old Caledonian pine forests left in Scotland. It is managed with very little human interference. The main animal on the estate is the red deer. There are about 2,000 to 2,500 of them.

Some areas of the estate are protected for their wildlife. For example, Lochnagar and Ballochbuie are special areas for birds and forests. There are also four sites of special scientific interest on the estate.

The royal family employs about 50 full-time and 50–100 part-time staff. They help maintain the working estate.

There are about 150 buildings on the estate. These include Birkhall, which used to be home to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Craigowan Lodge is often used by the royal family's friends and family. It's also used when Balmoral Castle is being prepared for a royal visit. Six smaller buildings on the estate can be rented as holiday cottages.

Visiting the Gardens and Castle Grounds

In 1931, the gardens and castle grounds were opened to the public for the first time. They are now open daily from April until the end of July. After July, the royal family arrives for their annual stay.

Until 2024, the ballroom was the only room inside the castle that the public could see. In April 2024, it was announced that during a summer tour, visitors would be able to see inside several rooms used by the royal family.

Craigowan Lodge

Craigowan Lodge is a stone house with seven bedrooms. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the main castle. It's more rustic than the castle. Prince Charles and Princess Diana often stayed there when they visited. They even posed for a photo there before their wedding in 1981.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip often spent the first few days of their summer holiday at Craigowan Lodge. This was sometimes because the castle was still open to tourists.