Queen Elizabeth II’s “favourite” Royal residence, Balmoral Estate, could be in for a massive transformation as King Charles has submitted plans to convert part of the estate into a wedding venue. The public might soon have the chance to say their vows in the Queen’s Building, located just a stone’s throw away from the globally renowned castle.
Spanning approximately 50,000 acres, the Balmoral Estate is a working estate with grouse moors, forestry and farmland. Our rules in Scotland regarding wedding venues are more relaxed than England’s, as the celebrant, such as a registrar or priest, carries the licence, not the venue.
Aberdeenshire Council is currently reviewing the plans, which seek permission to repurpose the royal venue for “weddings, dinners, meetings and other events”. The proposal also stipulates that music would be kept at a “low level” to avoid disturbing anyone.
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King Charles continues the Royal Family tradition of spending his summer holidays at Balmoral, nestled on the banks of the River Dee. Reportedly, Balmoral boasts an impressive 52 bedrooms and numerous reception rooms, including the one where the monarch often hosts guests for official visits.
Despite the grandeur of the main castle, King Charles and Queen Camilla favour the neighbouring Birkhall estate, once a cherished residence of the Queen Mother. The late Queen was known to visit Balmoral Castle every summer for week-long holidays, starting her stay in late July at Craigowan Lodge before moving into the castle once it closed to visitors in August, reports the Express.
The Balmoral grounds held a special place in the late Queen’s heart, as Prince Philip proposed to her there in the summer of 1946. It was also where Queen Elizabeth II peacefully passed away on September 8, 2022, according to a memo from her private secretary, Sir Edward Young.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth chose to stay at Balmoral to appoint the new prime minister, Liz Truss, rather than travelling to Buckingham Palace in London. Marking 25 years of the Scottish Parliament in September, King Charles suggested that his mother “chose” to spend her last moments at Balmoral, despite concerns about potential logistical difficulties if she were to pass away in the Highlands.
The King stated: “My late mother especially treasured the time spent at Balmoral, and it was there, in the most beloved of places, where she chose to spend her final days.”
Balmoral has been a Royal residence since 1852, when Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, purchased the estate and its original castle. The existing Balmoral Castle was commissioned after the house at the time was considered too small.