Hi Friends, On my last research trip to the UK I visited Balmoral Castle, and I enjoyed touring the gardens and grounds and walking through the ballroom and learning about the castle’s history.
Balmoral is a Scottish Baronial style mansion built for Queen Victoria in the mid-1800s by her husband Prince Albert, and it’s now the summer home of the royal family. Balmoral stands on 50,000 acres of land in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Much of the land is covered with beautiful evergreen forests and the River Dee runs through the property.
Queen Victoria at the time of her coronation
Prince Albert and Queen Victoria visited the area only a few years after their marriage and they loved the beauty and serenity of the countryside. Queen Victoria said, “All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils”. The surrounding hilly landscape also reminded them of Thuringia, Albert’s homeland in Germany.
Queen Victoria and her family often spent time at Balmoral each summer, and other members of the royal family have continued the tradition of summer holidays at Balmoral.
Prince Albert and Queen Victoria and their nine children
I especially enjoyed seeing the sunken gardens and the greenhouse filled with bright blooms.
I hope you’ll visit my Photo Page to see more photos of my trips to England and Scotland.
Happy Reading!
Carrie
Carrie, these are beautiful pictures. It must have felt like you were living in a fairytale to actually be there. I especially like the jaunty flag at the top of the turret.