From Mallorca to Scotland
The summer residences of the European royals
On the balcony of their Mallorcan summer residence: the Spanish royal family.
© Getty Images/Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage
The Spaniards are drawn to Mallorca, the British to Scotland: This is where the European royals spend their summer holidays.
For Queen Elizabeth (1926-2022), Scotland’s Balmoral Castle was one of her favorite places in the world – no wonder the monarch spent every summer holiday there with her family. And also King Charles III. (74) follows his late mother and spends his first summer as a monarch together with his wife Queen Camilla (76). Scotland.
The castle and 50,000 hectare estate have been owned by the British Royal Family since 1852. Prince Albert (1819-1861), husband of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), bought it at the time. The property is surrounded by the Scottish mountains, lochs and green pastures. When the whole family is in the imposing castle, leisure activities such as hunting, fishing or horseback riding are on the agenda.
But the summer residences of the other European royals are also impressive. From Norway to France to Greece – the royal families have created their very own summer oases far from their usual palace walls.
The Spanish Royal Family: Marivent Palace, Mallorca
Ever since he was a child, King Felipe VI. of Spain (55) every summer at the Marivent Palace on the popular Balearic island of Mallorca, which overlooks the sea on a 30,000 hectare estate in Parma among pine groves. The Spanish royal family has been vacationing here since the early 1970s, when the palace was given to King Juan Carlos I (85) at the time. Today Felipe VI. his own family, Queen Letizia (50) and daughters Princess Leonor (17) and Princess Sofia (16), here. The family typically begins their summer vacation at the end of July and regularly has their picture taken on trips and appointments.
Belgians vacation in France
The Belgian royal couple, King Philippe (63) and Queen Mathilde (50), have been spending their summer holidays with their children on the quiet French island of Île d’Yeu for many years. First they rented a holiday home there, and in 2019 the family finally bought a property with a villa. The family should particularly like the fact that they can move about the island relatively unrecognized, and they can also go kite surfing, cycling or hiking here.
The Swedish Royal Family: Solliden Palace, Borgholm
The Swedish royal family around King Carl XVI. Gustaf (77) and Queen Silvia (79) prefer to vacation at home: They go to the island of Öland, a few hundred kilometers from Stockholm. The family owns the summer residence Solliden Palace there. The luxurious property was built in 1906 by the Swedish Queen Victoria (46) and is inspired by the architecture of southern Italy. When the family is not on a private holiday, the palace is also open to the general public.
The Danish Royal Family: Château de Cayx, France
In the 1970s, Queen Margrethe II (83) and her French husband Henrik (1934-2018) bought a dreamlike château and winery in southern France. Since then, it has served as a “relaxed retreat” for the royal family and their French relatives, especially during the summer months. Prince Henrik celebrated his 80th birthday here in 2014, and grandson Count Felix von Monpezat (21) celebrated his 20th birthday last year. Wine is still produced and sold here.
The Dutch vacation in a Greek luxury villa
As heir to the throne, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (56) bought a breathtaking luxury villa on the Greek Peloponnese peninsula for his family in 2012 – for 4.5 million euros. The property is located near the town of Kranidi and has two pools, a private marina and its own stretch of beach. In 2020, the family made negative headlines when they vacationed here during the Corona restrictions in their own country.
The Norwegian Royal Family: Bygdøy Farm, Oslo
Apparently the Norwegians like it more rustic. The Bygdøy farm near Oslo has been in the hands of the Norwegian royal family since 1305. During the reign of King Haakon VII (1872-1957) it became a popular family summer holiday destination. After the death of King Olav V (1903-1991), the farm remained unused – until the current monarch King Harald V (86) and his wife Queen Sonja (86) had it renovated in 2007. The family now vacations there regularly again. Certainly to the delight of the grandchildren: the organic farm has numerous animals, including 60 cows.