Royal Residences – Balmoral Castle
The Highland Home of the British Royal Family
© Kim Rush
Oct 27, 2009
The Balmoral Estate was originally owned by King Robert II in the fourteenth century who built a hunting lodge on the estate and hunted in the surrounding forest. In 1390, Robert sold the estate to Sir William Drummond, who build a castle on the land. After Drummond’s death, Balmoral Estate was sold to the Earl of Huntly and remained in his family until 1662. The estate then passed to the Farquharsons and the Earl of Fife before being returned to the Royal Family.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Scotland for the first time in 1842 and was struck by the beauty of the Highlands. In 1848 they began negotiations to first lease, then purchase Balmoral and the land upon which it stood. Neither had seen the castle. Negotiations were completed four years later.
The original castle was not large enough for the Royal Family so Prince Albert commissioned William Smith, the city architect of Aberdeen to design the new castle. The castle was built 100 yards northwest of the original castle. The foundation stone was laid by Queen Victoria on September 28, 1853. The castle was completed in 1856 and the original building was demolished.
Mrs. Brown
After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria lived at Balmoral full-time. It was during this time, that she faced scandal and formed an attachment with John Brown, her Highland servant. This caused people to begin calling the Queen “Mrs. Brown.” Eventually, Queen Victoria was persuaded to enter public life again. After her death in 1901, Balmoral Castle was passed to her eldest son, King Edward VII.
Edward VIII
Balmoral Castle, like Sandringham House, is privately owned by the Queen. It has been passed down through the Royal Family. This became an issue when King Edward VIII abdicated. Edward inherited the two properties upon the death of his father, King George V. After his abdication, Edward’s brother, King George VI, bought the two homes from Edward in order to keep them as homes of the reigning monarch.
Balmoral Today
Throughout the years, members of the Royal Family, including a water garden created by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Today Balmoral Castle is surrounded by a 50,000 acre estate that is managed by the Balmoral Estate Office. An official known as the Resident Factor is responsible for overseeing the estate. It serves as a summer vacation home for the Royal Family. It is open to visitors from April to July.
Sources:
Balmoral Castle and Estate. (accessed October 26, 2009)
The Official Website of the British Monarch. “Royal Residences: Balmoral Castle” (accessed October 27, 2009)
Phillips, Charles. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Royal Britain. London: Lorenz Press, 2009.
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