Tickets for tours of Balmoral Castle, offering visitors a glimpse inside the royal family’s residence for the very first time, were quickly snapped up within just 24 hours.
King Charles’ Scottish abode is set to welcome the public from July 1st to August 4th, but tickets vanished swiftly after going on sale on Wednesday.
During this period, visitors will have the opportunity to explore certain sections of the royal dwelling before the King and Queen embark on their summer retreat at the Aberdeenshire castle. A total of 40 tickets per day were made available for purchase.
Previously, members of the public were limited to viewing the ballroom and wandering the castle grounds. However, this move is believed to be part of Charles’ initiative to enhance public accessibility to the palaces.
The sold-out interior tours of the castle were priced at £100, or £150 for the tour combined with afternoon tea.
According to the Balmoral Castle website, these tours mark the first opportunity for visitors to explore the castle’s interior since its completion in 1855.
It added of the experience: “They will take you on a historical journey through several of the beautiful rooms within Balmoral Castle. You will learn about the origins of the castle and how it has been loved by generations of the royal family.
“Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to present day, where you can see how rooms within the castle are used today by their Majesty’s The King and Queen and other members of the royal family.”
Balmoral, renowned as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cherished retreat, was the place where she peacefully passed away on September 8, 2022.
Since its acquisition by Queen Victoria through Prince Albert in 1852, Balmoral Castle has served as the Scottish residence for the royal family, initially leased in 1848.
Spanning over 50,000 acres of scenic countryside, the estate features various properties, including the King’s private residence, Birkhall, and the cottage of the Prince and Princess of Wales, known as Tam-Na-Ghar.
Balmoral offers the royal family a sanctuary of privacy, where they indulge in leisurely activities such as walks, picnics, fishing, and barbecues.
