Balmoral Info
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Some info on Balmoral, from an internet source:
Balmoral Castle is the country estate of the British Royal Family since 1852. Prince Albert purchased it as a gift for Queen Victoria after they fell in love with the Highlands during their previous visits to Scotland.
Not actually part of the Crown Estate, the castle is directly owned by the Queen and considered to be her private residence. Her Majesty and her family have regularly spent summers at the estate, which lies close to the Village of Crathie in Royal Deeside, since she was a young girl.
The current castle was not the original one that stood on the site when Prince Albert first acquired it, the predecessor to the current castle was considered to be too small. So work on a new castle, which was made using granite and built in the Scottish Baronial style, was completed in 1855, with Prince Albert and Aberdeen architect William Smith working on the designs. The interior, styled like a Scottish hunting lodge, was filled with trophies, tartan carpets and weapons. The Queen and Prince Albert often spent long summers there enjoying long walks, painting and sketching and of course hunting the estate's abundant population of wild birds and deer. The pair quickly developed an affinity for Scotland, and when Prince Albert sadly passed away in December 1861, Queen Victoria erected a spectacular Pyramid shaped cairn in his memory on the estate.
Now covering an area of approximately 50,000 acres, Queen Elizabeth's love affair with Balmoral dates back to the 1950s, with her husband the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip taking an active role in caring for the estate. The Queen still visits Balmoral annually and enjoys spending her summers on the estate.
What can you see when you visit? You can see the gardens, exhibitions and of course, the famous Ballroom at Balmoral, which is the only room in the castle open to the public. Also on site is the Mews Gift Shop, where you can buy souveniers, a coffee shop, cafe and even a restaurant. Those feeling a bit more adventurous can enjoy a Balmoral Expedition, which includes a two hour Landrover tour of the Estate.