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Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8th, at the age of 96.
"The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral Palace this afternoon. The King and Queen will remain at Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow," Buckingham Palace announced at 6:30 pm on September 8.
The news came hours after Buckingham Palace announced that doctors were concerned about the Queen's health and that she needed medical attention. Following the announcement, the Queen's children, including Prince Charles, Princess Anne (72), Prince Andrew (62), and Prince Edward (58), immediately went to Balmoral Castle to be with her. Her grandson, Prince William, was also present.
Balmoral Castle is a favorite spot of the Queen of England.
Balmoral Castle covers an area of up to 2,000 hectares.
Prince Albert purchased the land and built Balmoral Castle on it.
Nestled amidst the lush, tranquil Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle boasts a magnificent beauty, a particular favorite of the Queen of England. The story of Balmoral Castle dates back to a house built in 1390, but it was not originally owned by the British royal family. In 1842, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, made their first visit to the Scottish Highlands. The royal couple were immediately captivated by its majestic and romantic beauty.
Deeply in love with the scenery, Prince Albert decided to buy this charming little house as a gift for his beloved wife. With their needs growing, the couple decided to build a castle there so their family could come and enjoy themselves. The castle was completed in 1856, and its original foundations were completely demolished. The total area of Balmoral Castle is 20,000 hectares, equivalent to approximately 200 million square meters.
The first images of the royal family at Balmoral.
Since then, Balmoral has become the private retreat of the royal family. Here, members often entertain friends and relatives with delicious meals. They also organize picnics, dances, and hunting trips. According to Business Insider, the castle has 52 bedrooms and is estimated to be worth up to £115 million.
Currently, Balmoral Castle is classified as a historic building in Scotland, with annual operating and maintenance costs of approximately £3 million. In addition to the main castle, the estate comprises up to 150 other buildings, including Birkhall, the estate of Prince Charles and his wife, and several other houses. Inside the castle are rooms with warm color tones, decorated with numerous antique paintings. The Queen of England has a private room for receiving distinguished guests.
"This is my favorite place to live; here I can be myself and feel completely free," Queen Elizabeth II shared about Balmoral Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II working among her servants at Balmoral.
According to Vogue, Balmoral is where the Queen enjoys "normal living" and even helps her staff with the cleaning. The Queen likes to stroll around the castle on the backs of her aged horses, while Prince Philip enjoys spending time preparing roasts. The Queen usually begins her summer holidays at Balmoral in mid-July.
The first member of the Royal Family to be born at Balmoral was Queen Victoria's granddaughter, Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg. Victoria Eugenie's parents were Prince Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's fifth daughter. Balmoral Castle is open to tourists from April to July each year. Visiting and leisure activities are quite relaxed when the British Royal Family is not present.
