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The castle is an example of Scottish baronial architecture and is classified by Historic Environment Scotland as a category A listed building. The new castle was completed in 1856 and the old castle was demolished shortly thereafter.

3. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

In 1852, after visiting Scotland and falling in love with the Highlands, Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle for his wife, Queen Victoria, for a cost of £32,000 which equates to £4.7 million today.

As parents of nine children, Victoria and Albert decided that the castle was too small for their needs and so they hired architect William Smith to reconstruct the property.

The Castle was completed in 1856 and the old building was demolished. Queen Victoria resided at the castle until her death in 1901. The Royal Family continued to use the home during annual visits.

4. The Construction of the Castle

The Balmoral Estate, located within the Cairngorms National Park, is over 50,000 acres and includes grouse moors, agricultural land, and forests.

The castle is built from granite and reportedly has 52 bedrooms, alongside many reception rooms.

There are over 150 buildings on the estate, including Craigowan Lodge which was often used by Prince Charles and Princess Diana when they visited Balmoral.

5. Queen Elizabeth II

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –  

Balmoral Castle is now owned by Queen Elizabeth II and although she does not live there permanently, it is her main residence.

Her Majesty and her late husband, Prince Philip, spent twelve weeks during summer and early autumn residing at Balmoral Castle each year.

Many other members of the Royal Family, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Eugenie and her sister Prince Beatrice, visit the Queen at Balmoral during the summer.

When visiting the castle, the royal family enjoys a relaxing break away without worrying about their royal duties. It is kind of a holiday camp for the royals.

6. The Beautiful Garden

Photo by Daniel Kraft –  

What is more interesting about the castle is the beautiful gardens. The royal family loves taking an afternoon walk in the gardens. The Queen loves the walks in the gardens.

7. The Balmoral Castle After Queen Victoria

8. Balmoral Castle During the Second World War

During the Second World War,  royal visits to Balmoral ceased. In addition, due to the enmity with Germany, Danzig Shiel. A lodge built by Victoria in Ballochbuie was renamed Garbh Allt Shiel and the “King of Prussia’s Fountain” was removed from the grounds.

9. Major additions to Balmoral Castle in the 1950s

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –  

Since the 1950s, Prince Philip added herbaceous borders and a water garden. During the 1980s new staff buildings were built close to the castle.

The estate also incorporates the 7,500-acre Delnadamph Lodge estate, bought by Elizabeth II in 1978.

10. Cairngorms National Park Houses Balmoral Estate

Balmoral Estate is within the Cairngorms National Park and is partly within the Deeside and Lochnagar National Scenic Area.

The 50,000-acre (20,000 ha) estate contains a wide variety of landscapes, from the Dee River Valley to open mountains.

There are seven Munros (hills in Scotland over 3,000 feet (910 m)) within the estate, the highest being Lochnagar at 3,789 feet (1,155 m).

This mountain was the setting for a children’s story, The Old Man of Lochnagar, told originally by Prince Charles to his younger brothers, Andrew and Edward. The story was published in 1980, with royalties accruing to The Prince’s Trust.

The most interesting part is that the Balmoral Castle is open to public visits when the royals are not residing in the castle between April to July each year. Tourists from other countries are also allowed to visit the castle during this time of the year.