The late Queen held a special affection for Balmoral, choosing to spend her final days at the Scottish estate. Her eldest son and successor, King Charles, reflected on his mother’s passing during a speech commemorating 25 years of the Scottish Parliament in September 2024.
“Speaking from a personal perspective, Scotland has always had a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself,” the King expressed, acknowledging his “beloved grandmother was proudly Scottish.” He then touchingly added: “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.”
The Queen’s fondness for Balmoral Castle in Royal Deeside was well-documented, as she spent many summers there – first as a young girl with her parents and sister Princess Margaret, and later with Prince Philip and their children.
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Philip even proposed to the Queen, then still a princess, within the grounds of Balmoral in the summer of 1946. The royal couple also spent part of their honeymoon on the estate at the Birkhall hunting lodge, now owned by Charles in the winter of 1947, after marrying before 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey on November 20.
Queen Elizabeth chose the comfort of her cherished Balmoral estate to live out her final days, departing this life in a state of tranquility as she slept on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Princess Anne disclosed her mother’s initial apprehension about the implications of passing away at Balmoral due to the logistical challenges it could present, reports the Mirror.
In a BBC documentary last year, she recounted: “We did try and persuade her that that shouldn’t be part of the decision-making process.” She then expressed her hope that the Queen ultimately felt reassured by their support stating, “I hope she felt that that was right in the end, because I think we did.”
A treasured possession of Britain’s royal heritage since 1852, when Prince Albert, spouse to Queen Victoria, acquired the estate, Balmoral Castle stands not as Crown Estate but as the late monarch’s private property. The castle known today replaced the original structure for its insufficient capacity.
The late Queen’s favorite summer retreat was the scenic Balmoral estate, as her granddaughter Princess Eugenie fondly recalled. “It’s the most beautiful place on earth. I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands,” said Eugenie, reminiscing about the cherished family times.
“Walks, picnics, dogs a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs and people coming in and out all the time. It’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there; where you just have room to breathe and run.”