King Charles will open the doors of Balmoral to the public as part of his official tours. This is the first time such a view of the castle has been possible.
From Monday, several rooms of the Aberdeenshire mansion, first acquired by the Royal Family during the reign of Queen Victoria, will be on display, giving visitors an insight into His Majesty’s taste in interior design.
James Hamilton Goddard, visitor enterprise manager at the Balmoral Estate, and his team have been working to open the castle’s entrance hall, red corridor, main and family dining rooms, page lobby, library and drawing room to the public.
Previously, visitors could tour Balmoral’s ballroom and grounds, which will also be included in the new tours from this summer.
Hamilton Goddard said: “I think the King wants people to see him in person.” Our department was asked to put this together and we have put this together.
“Viewers who manage to get tickets will have seen a royal country home, and that’s exactly what it is – it has a very homely feel.”
The house has undergone many changes since the time of Queen Victoria and the Prince. King Albert bought it 170 years ago and the King has made his own tweaks since ascending to the throne in 2022.
He replaced the carpets in the drawing room with Hunting Stewart tartan, the original flooring that Victoria had installed in the castle.
Charles also reflected his great-grandmother Victoria’s taste by choosing paintings by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer for the walls. Artists were invited to Balmoral by the legendary monarch each summer to receive painting lessons from her and Albert, and the public can visit the library, which now serves as the King’s study, where royals once had breakfast.
Hamilton Goddard said, “The fact that the public can actually see the library, which is now used as Her Majesty’s study, is probably one of the most beautiful rooms in the whole house.” Other highlights include a chauffeur’s pipe once used to summon the royal coachman, and a dinner gong made from material salvaged from the British warship Temeraire.
Tickets for the tour, which cost £100 or £150 and includes afternoon tea and cake, sold out as soon as they went on sale. Forty people visited each day, from July 1 to August 4.
Traditionally, the royal family travels to Balmoral around the end of August, so guests are not able to meet members of the company.
However, those in for afternoon tea can enjoy cakes and sandwiches served in a replica of the white Stewart tartan china used by the Royals at Balmoral.