Balmoral – The Queen’s Scottish Retreat

“A Victorian fantasy in the Scottish Highlands”, Balmoral Castle is the place the Queen calls “home” during the summer of any given year.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought this property in 1852 and, upon owning it, completely demolished the structure that was standing and designed and built their own.  Queen Victoria felt that the original building was “too small”.  As Prince Albert did with a lot of their properties, he set about in helping with the design and ended up with their beloved Balmoral Castle.   The word “Balmoral”  is the anglicization of the gaelic words “baile mhoireil” meaning “majestic dwelling”.

It was to here that, upon Albert’s death, Victoria came.  Her heart was very heavy, she had lost the love of her life and she settled into a long time of mourning.

It was here that she met John Brown, Albert’s former keeper of the horses and the man who would help Victoria come out of her depression.  There is a wonderful film about John Brown and Victoria called Mrs. Brown.  If you have not seen it, we highly recommend it.

It was here that Queen Elizabeth and  Prince Phillip learned that Diana had died in a car crash.

It was here that Prince Charles had to tell his sons that their mother had been killed.

It was here that the Queen stayed “to be a grandmother to her grandsons”, while her country mourned the death of “The People’s Princess”.   Finally, after many days, she left for London and requested that the Standard, the flag that flies when the Queen is in residence at Buckingham Palace, be flown at half mast.  What dramatic days those were with everyone spellbound and waiting to see how the Royal Family was going to handle this very sad, poignant situation.  The movie “The Queen” depicts this time in history with great feeling.

It is here that the Queen and her family go in August and September to enjoy the Scottish countryside and the serenity it has to offer.  There are acres and acres of rolling hills, trickling rivers, amazing vistas, and majestic wildlife.  The Queen owns this property herself – it is not owned by the Crown.

It is here that photos of the Queen’s family can be found in mismatched frames sitting on the piano and where the Queen relaxes comfortably in her tartan kilt by the fire.

Tartans abound!  They are all over the Castle!

Certainly, it is here at Balmoral Castle that love and joy can be found.