Balmoral Castle on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and it is the private residence of The Queen. Beloved by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Balmoral Castle has remained a favourite residence for The Queen and her family during the summer holiday period in August and September.

History:
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the estate in 1852 after visiting Scotland. Sir John Clark the Queen’s Physician recommended the place for its fresh air and peace.
The original castle was built in the XV century but it was too small. William Smith, an architect from Aberdeen was commissioned to build the castle as we know it today which was completed 4 years later.

Life those days.
Prince Albert started learning Gaelic while Queen Victoria and her children became proficient at Scottish dancing. They all wore kilts and she wore sturdy boots which in the fashion world were known as “Balmorals”.

Victoria was very strict in managing the palace; her love of fresh air was such, that she ordered servants to open all the windows of the unoccupied rooms which made the castle rather drafty, often guests were advised to take additional clothing if they were to stay at Balmoral.

Victoria and Albert got up early. She particularly enjoyed her morning rides following the sounds of the bagpipes, usually having lunch on the moors and returning for tea time. Smoking was not allowed in the castle except in the Smoking room. Men could not linger with their port, they had to stay at the drawing room, which was fully decorated with tartan and thistle designs.

Along the castle, the tartan Royal Stuart was present. Victoria generally wore a Royal Stuart plaid; calling the attention of everyone. It was said that due to this Prince Albert bought a green shaded oil lamp and designed a tartan which he named Balmoral ( gray with red and black stripes); the queen therefore designed her own being red and black but with a white background.

The Highlight of a stay at Balmoral was the “Ghillies Ball”. Before Balmoral was built, Victoria’s favourite dance was the Quadrilles; then she changed the Quadrilles for the Hoolichan. This event was the ladies’ favourite as they were able to dance with young, good looking men. The ball used to last until 2 a.m.

No ghillie was more handsome than John Brown who was five years younger than Queen Victoria.

Prince Albert died of Typhoid Fever when Queen Victoria was 42. She relied completely on Mr. Brown whom Prince Albert had appointed Victoria’s personal ghillie 3 years before his death. Later, he was known as the Queen’s Highland Servant.

John Brown was the son of a schoolmaster, he had an imposing figure in his Highland Dress and accompanied the queen everywhere. He looked after her preventing many assassination attempts. He remained a lifelong bachelor and this gave room to great speculation about his relationship with the Queen. She did not regard him as a servant and he did not consider himself one.

Sending New Year cards to friends has always been a Scottish custom, and on January 1, 1877 John Brown received a picture from a maid with the following verse.

“I send my serving maiden
With New Year letter laden,
My words will prove my faith and love.
To you my heart’s best treasure,
Then smile on her and smile on me and give me pleasure”.

Below it said: To my best friend J.B from his best friend V.R.I in Victoria’s own handwriting. John Brown was the only person allowed to smoke in the queen’s presence. He was not very popular with the rest of the Royal Family. However, nobody dared to tell Victoria what to do or applaud before she did.

The film "The Queen" beautifully acted by Helen Mirren, was filmed partly in
Scotland, and on the lands and the interior of the lovely Balmoral Castle.

Guests farewell
Guests were often given a bouquet of Scottish wild flowers including heather and for their farewell pipers played the popular lament “Will ye not come back again?

Location and Protection of the Environment
The Castle is located on the large Balmoral Estate, a working estate which aims to protect the environment while contributing to the local economy. Around 1878, Queen Victoria bought the Ballochbuie Forest in order to protect the Caledonian pine and other species; as well as to protect many local animals such as the red deer population.

Since 1974 The Scottish Wildlife Trust is in charge of managing the areas around Loch Muick and Lochnagar; these areas can be visited as well as The Estate grounds, gardens and the Castle Ballroom which are open to visitors from the beginning of April to the end of July each year.

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