King Charles lauds ‘sacred’ Balmoral Castle where late Queen Elizabeth II chose to spend her final days

The monarch provided a foreword to a new guidebook about Balmoral Castle and its 50,000-acre estate in Scotland

King Charles III has penned a heartfelt foreword for a new guidebook celebrating Balmoral Castle, declaring the Scottish retreat occupies a “uniquely special place” in his family’s affections.

The monarch described the 50,000-acre estate as his family’s “cherished Scottish home” since Prince Albert acquired it in 1852.

The King praised Balmoral’s “startling individuality” and its “precious, almost sacred, surrounding landscape”.

“With its buildings of startling individuality, which never fail to fascinate, and its precious, almost sacred, surrounding landscape, it is a place where there is constant change, yet everything remains unaltered, with a sense of timelessness which refreshes the soul,” the monarch wrote.

In particularly moving passages, the King paid tribute to his late mother’s famously deep connection to the Highlands residence.

“My late mother particularly treasured her time at Balmoral,” he said. “It was here, in these most beloved of surroundings, that she chose to spend her final days.”

Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at the estate on September 8, 2022, aged 96, following seven decades on the throne.

“I hope that you, too, will be inspired by the rich complexity of the architecture and share in the magic of the surrounding countryside, whose ‘wild and majestic’ landscape has been the source of inspiration and enjoyment for so many,” he concluded.

King Charles III has penned a heartfelt foreword for a new guidebook celebrating Balmoral Castle, declaring that the Scottish retreat occupies a ‘uniquely special place’ in his family’s affections

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The guidebook, titled simply Balmoral, spans 80 pages and features photography by Christopher Simon Sykes capturing the castle’s historic interiors.

It opens with a watercolour of the castle painted by the King himself in 1989, when he was still Prince of Wales.

Written by journalist and historian Mary Miers and published by Barbreck Publishers, the paperback will first become available at the Balmoral Castle gift shop and website from midday on Tuesday.

Wider distribution through Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwells and other booksellers follows from Thursday, June 11, with a retail price of £10.

The Queen famously adored Balmoral Castle and chose to spend her final days there

 | PA

For those unable to make the journey to Aberdeenshire, the publication offers a comprehensive visual tour of rooms that remained private for generations.

The King has undertaken substantial alterations to Balmoral’s grounds since welcoming visitors inside the castle for the first time in over 170 years in July 2024.

Most striking among these changes is the Celtic Ballroom Maze, an intricate geometric design that replaced the former lawn between the castle’s north front and the River Dee.

Created in 2024, the maze reflects the monarch’s well-documented fascination with geometric patterns.

Within the castle itself, the King has enriched the interiors with additional furniture, paintings and objects, many sourced from the Royal Collection, alongside carpets that bring fresh colour and texture to the historic rooms.

Author Mrs Miers said: “Balmoral will forever be associated with Victoria and Albert’s love affair with the Highlands, but there’s so much more to the story, which I hope this guidebook reveals.

“Now that Balmoral is more publicly accessible, it’s possible to appreciate how central the Prince Consort’s interests in architecture, design, landscaping and estate management were to its creation, and how effectively The King, who shares these passions, has added a new layer of interest and style, while preserving and enhancing the original.”

CRE: https://www.gbnews.com/royal/king-charles-balmoral-castle-queen-elizabeth-ii-spend-her-final-days