Inside Balmoral Castle, the Highland retreat that gave the royals a taste of freedom

Tucked deep in the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle has long been more than a royal residence; it was the late Queen Elizabeth's sanctuary from public life. From its granite towers shaped by Victoria and Albert to the quiet walks it once afforded a monarch rarely left alone, the estate remains one of the most storied retreats in royal history.

Join us as we take a look at the castle that has always been somewhat of a sanctuary for the Royals.

Location 

Balmoral Castle is located in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire. This is located in the Northeast of Scotland, meaning the area is mountainous and filled with incredible scenery.

No doubt the mystical nature of the area is a huge part of the appeal.

As well as this, the castle is surrounded by Caledonian Pine Forest, adding to the undeniable allure of the terrain located deep in the Scottish Highlands.

History 

Balmoral House was built in 1930 by Sir William Drummond. Over the years, ownership of the estate shifted due to the turbulent political climate of the time. Following Jacobite ownership, the Castle was eventually acquired by Sir Robert Gordon, a diplomat who made many major changes to the Castle's structure.

Following Gordon's death in 1847, the house was passed to Prince Albert, who would own the house, the land, and everyone who worked on the property. He and Queen Victoria quickly fell in love with Balmoral and commissioned architects to upgrade both the grounds and the castle. 

The castle was seriously upgraded and quickly became a fully-fledged granite compound, truly fit for royalty. Victoria and Albert both played significant roles in the rise of Highland culture. They decorated the castle with tartan and proved hugely influential in the return of Scottish culture to prominence in the hearts and minds of the British public.

Located within the boundaries of Cairngorms National Park, Balmoral Estate stretches to 50,000 acres. The estate is home to farmland, deer, ponies, and cattle. 

Queen Elizabeth and Balmoral 

When discussing Balmoral Castle, it is impossible to do so without discussing Queen Elizabeth and her relationship with the estate. Queen Elizabeth's love of the Castle is well documented, and it is no surprise that she chose to spend so much time there during the year.

The Queen regularly hosted guests at the castle. Both the drawing room and the study have been used to host dignitaries and special guests. The green interior of both rooms is well documented, and the impressive bookshelf in the study is a real talking point for guests.

It is also worth noting the importance of Balmoral's garden. The garden is regularly used for events and garden parties and is said to have been Prince Philip's favorite part of the estate.

What really set Balmoral apart for Queen Elizabeth was the freedom it granted her compared to Buckingham Palace. She could go for long, solitary walks where she didn't need to worry about the media, and could even enjoy a sort of quiet normality.

This privilege also extended to the rest of the Royal Family. Harry and Meghan have spent time at Balmoral in the past.

All in all, Balmoral Castle is estimated to cost about $140 million. 

* Originally published in July 2019, updated in Aug 2026.