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Did the Queen have a castle in Scotland?

Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where Queen Elizabeth spent her summer holiday, was widely thought to be the monarch's favorite residence. I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands, described her granddaughter Princess Eugenie in the documentary Our Queen At Ninety.



Yes, Queen Elizabeth II had a deeply personal connection to Scotland and spent significant time at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire. Unlike many other royal residences that belong to the Crown Estate, Balmoral was the Queen's private property, inherited through the family since it was purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1852. It was famously her favorite summer retreat, where she would spend August and September engaging in "normal" activities like stalking deer, having picnics, and hosting the "Ghilliies' Ball." Beyond Balmoral, her official residence in Scotland was the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, located at the end of the Royal Mile. While Holyroodhouse was used for formal state ceremonies and "Holyrood Week," Balmoral was where she felt most at home; fittingly, it was also the location where she passed away in September 2022. Today, in 2026, Balmoral continues to serve as a private retreat for King Charles III and the Royal Family, maintaining its status as a symbol of the monarchy's Scottish heritage.

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We have a new king. On the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022 and his accession to the throne, HRH Prince Charles became King Charles III. In Scotland, he is King of Scots, the title inherited from James VI of Scots when he also became James I of England in 1603.

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The Balmoral Estate began as a home built by Sir William Drummond in 1390. The estate was formerly owned by King Robert II (1316–1390), who had a hunting lodge in the area. After Drummond, the estate was sold to Alexander Gordon, the 3rd Earl of Huntly, in the 15th century.

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Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848.

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The Castle of Mey was once owned by the Queen Mother Share this: As well as Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate, Prince Charles also owns a second holiday home in Scotland, Castle of Mey in Caithness.

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Birkhall: The home of The Prince of Wales on the Balmoral estate, Aberdeenshire - Country Life.

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