Starting Monday, Balmoral Castle – the Scottish holiday home of the British royal family since the 19th century and Queen Elizabeth’s most cherished retreat (where, coincidentally, she drew her last breath) – will welcome the general public for the first time. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore certain areas of the castle that have traditionally been reserved exclusively for the royal family and their private guests. 3 View gallery Balmoral Castle ( Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images ) Tickets, priced at £100 (or £150 for those wishing to indulge in a very costly cup of tea), sold out within 24 hours when they went on sale last April.
Those fortunate enough to have secured tickets, will be granted a rare glimpse into rooms used by the king and queen, two dining rooms, the guest room, the lobby, and more. A guide will lead groups of up to 40 visitors at a time, taking them on a tour that includes a passage by a life-sized statue of Prince Albert, rumored to be able to turn. Insiders claim the staff rotated the statue so that the heartbroken Queen Victoria could view it even when she was on the upper floor of the castle.
“Since its completion in 1855, public access to the interior of Balmoral Castle has been restricted,” said the castle’s official spokesperson. “For the first time in history, we are thrilled to announce the opening of private tours in the castle. This experience will include learning about Balmoral’s history an.