Great Britain
Royal castles open to tourists
Balmoral Castle is one of the royal family residences where Queen Elizabeth II traditionally spent the summer months. photo
© Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/dpa
It is considered the “happy place” of the British royals: Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Now commoners can also experience how the royal family lives there – at a high price.
The British Royal Family is opening intimate areas of their well-known residences to tourists. At London’s Buckingham Palace, visitors can for the first time view the east wing of the city palace with the so-called Center Room between July 15th and August 31st, as the Royal Collection Trust announced. The royal family gathers in this hall before appearing on the balcony at major events such as the coronation. But you are not allowed to step out onto the balcony.
Also in Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands, where Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, areas used by the royals will be allowed to enter for the first time in the summer. The guided tours are offered between July 1st and August 4th, before King Charles III. and his wife Queen Camilla traditionally spend their summer holidays on the estate in the Scottish Highlands.
But entry into the world previously hidden from ordinary visitors comes at a high price: the new tours through the east wing of Buckingham Palace cost 75 pounds (87.45 euros) per person. It’s even more expensive in Scotland: a tour with a maximum of ten participants costs 100 pounds (116.70 euros) per person; a tour including “afternoon tea”, which includes tea and sandwiches, costs 150 pounds. A maximum of 40 tickets are available each day. Some dates are already sold out.
The royals care about Balmoral
The royals have a close connection to Balmoral Castle, which belongs to the monarch personally. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, bought the property in 1852 and had a new, larger building built. The original castle was demolished. Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, spent many weeks here every summer and also went on hikes in the area.
It is the first time since the castle was completed in 1855 that private tours have been offered, the administration said. Tourists have been able to visit Balmoral for a long time. However, entry is limited to the gardens and park as well as the ballroom. This year, entry is possible from May 4th to August 11th. Buckingham Palace has already been open to visitors; this year it is open to tourists from July 11th to September 29th.