Balmoral Castle Facts & Worksheets

After being rented for the first time in 1848, Prince Albert bought Balmoral Castle for Queen Victoria in 1852, and it has remained the Scottish residence of the Royal Family ever since.

See the fact file below for more information on Balmoral Castle, or you can download our 25-page Balmoral Castle worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY AND HISTORY

• When it was originally mentioned as “Bouchmorale” in 1451, local Scots Gaelic speakers gave it the pronunciation “bavrl.” Although the second portion of the name is ambiguous, it is believed that the first element, which means “a cottage,” is of Gaelic origin.
• The second component was described as a “large spot (of the ground)” by Adam Watson and Elizabeth Allan in their book The Place Names of Upper Deeside. 
• According to Alexander MacBain, this was once known as the Pictish “great clearing” or *mor-ial. Instead, the second component can be the name of a saint.
• Scotland’s King Robert II owned a hunting lodge nearby. Moreover, historical documents show that Sir William Drummond constructed a home in Balmoral in 1390.
• Charles Farquharson of Inverey, the brother of John Farquharson, the “Black Colonel,” received the estate in 1662. The Farquharsons supported the Jacobite cause, and James Farquharson of Balmoral took part in both the 1715 and 1745 uprisings.
• At the Battle of Falkirk in 1746, he sustained injuries. The Farquharsons of Auchendryne received the forfeited Farquharson properties. James Duff, 2nd Lord of Fife, bought Balmoral in 1798 and leased the castle.
• The lease was obtained in 1830 by Sir Robert Gordon, the 4th Lord of Aberdeen’s younger brother. He constructed significant improvements to the existing castle at Balmoral, including expansions in the baronial style created by John Smith of Aberdeen.

ROYAL ACQUISITION

• Five years after her accession to the throne and two years after their marriage, in 1842, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made their first trip to Scotland. 
• They spent the first night of their trip in Edinburgh as well as the Marquess of Breadalbane’s residence Taymouth Castle in Perthshire.
• They returned in 1844 to stay at Blair Castle and rented Ardverikie House near Loch Laggan in 1847. 
• Sir James Clark, the queen’s physician, suggested Deeside instead due to its better climate after the past trip’s frequent rain.
• After Sir Robert Gordon’s passing in 1847, Lord Aberdeen acquired the lease of Balmoral. A deal was negotiated in February 1848 under which Prince Albert would purchase the balance of the lease on Balmoral, together with the property’s furnishings and servants, without first visiting it.
• On September 8, 1848, the royal couple arrived for their initial visit. The house was “little but attractive,” according to Victoria, who also noted in her diary that “everything seemed to breathe freedom and calm, and to make one forget the world and its tragic turmoils.”
• Substantial alterations to the old mansion were contemplated in 1849, but by that time, talks to buy the estate from Earl Fife’s trustees were in progress. 
• A prefabricated iron building at Balmoral was ordered by Prince Albert after he saw a corrugated iron dwelling at the Great Exhibition of 1851. As a temporary ballroom and dining room, T. Bellhouse & Co.
• In June 1852, the deal was finalized for £32,000 (which would be equivalent to £3,699,092 in 2021), and Prince Albert officially took possession in the following fall. 
• At the same time that Abergeldie Castle’s lease was acquired, the neighboring estate of Birkhall was also purchased.

QUEEN VICTORIA AT BALMORAL CASTLE

• The routine of Victoria and Albert’s life in the Highlands was quickly established even before the new residence was finished. Albert spent many days hunting deer and other game, while Victoria went on lengthy daily walks that lasted up to four hours. 
• Their way of life at Balmoral, according to the diarist Charles Greville, was more like that of the gentry than that of royalty in 1849.
• Exotic conifers were planted on the property, and fresh plantations were built close to the house in the 1850s. 
• These renovations were overseen by Prince Albert, who also oversaw plans for farm buildings, the design of parterres, and the redirection of the major road north of the river via a new bridge.
• After Albert’s passing, Victoria stayed at Balmoral for longer and longer periods of time, sometimes spending as much as four months there each early summer and fall. She displayed several keepsakes of Albert.
• A few minor adjustments to the mountain paths, the construction of numerous cairns and memorials, and the installation of certain homes (Karim Cottage and Baile na Coille) built for senior employees were the only additional changes made to the grounds.
• A grandchild of Queen Victoria, Victoria Eugenie, was born in 1887 at Balmoral Castle. Princess Beatrice, Victoria, and Albert’s fifth daughter, gave birth to her. When Victoria Eugenie wed King Alfonso XIII in 1906, she ascended to the throne of Spain.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II AT BALMORAL CASTLE

• Since July 2022, Queen Elizabeth II had been staying at the castle for her yearly summer vacation and receiving medical attention. 
• Due to worries about the Queen’s mobility limitations, the appointment of British Prime Minister Liz Truss took place at Balmoral Castle on September 6, 2022, breaking with convention.
• At the age of 96, Elizabeth passed away at Balmoral on September 8, 2022. She was the first queen to pass away at Balmoral, and James V’s death at Falkland Castle in 1542 marked the last time a monarch had passed away in Scotland.
• For three days, the Queen’s casket rested in the castle’s ballroom so that members of the Royal Family, estate workers, and neighbors could pay their condolences. 
• The casket was shipped to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on September 11 in preparation for the state burial

ARCHITECTURE OF BALMORAL CASTLE

• Although being referred to as a castle, Balmoral serves mostly as a country house. It is a Victorian-era country house that is “typical and very unremarkable.” 
• The Scottish baronial architecture of the house is characterized by the tower and “pepper pot turrets.”
• A design element from medieval defensive tower homes is the seven-story tower. The “pepper pot” turrets were designed in the manner of French châteaux from the 16th century. 
• The battlemented porte-cochère, dormer windows, and crow-stepped gables are other characteristics of the Scottish baronial architecture.
• The current King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla live in Birkhall, one of the cottages at Balmoral. 
• After the Queen Mother passed away in 2002, the former received the estate as an inheritance. The couple honeymooned there in 2005.
• The 19th-century building is now regarded as a Category A historic structure. The site apparently has 150 buildings in total.

Balmoral Castle Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Balmoral Castle across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Balmoral Castle. After being rented for the first time in 1848, Prince Albert bought Balmoral Castle for Queen Victoria in 1852, and it has remained the Scottish residence of the Royal Family ever since.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Balmoral Castle Facts
2. Fact Check
3. Policy Making
4. Castles
5. Significance
6. Queens at Balmoral
7. My Balmoral
8. Balmoral in Memory
9. Balmoral Through Times
10. TouristThing
11. I am a…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Balmoral Castle?

Balmoral Castle is a large estate located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is most famous for being the private residence of the British royal family during the summer months.

When was Balmoral Castle built?

The original Balmoral Castle was built in 1390, but it was not until the 19th century that it was expanded and modernized into the grand estate that it is today.

Who owns Balmoral Castle?

Balmoral Castle is privately owned by the British royal family. It was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852, and it has remained in the royal family ever since.

Can visitors tour Balmoral Castle?

Yes, portions of Balmoral Castle are open to the public during certain months of the year. Visitors can explore the castle’s gardens, ballroom, and exhibitions on the history of the estate.

What is the significance of Balmoral Castle to the British royal family?

Balmoral Castle is considered a private retreat for the royal family, and it has been a beloved summer residence for generations of monarchs. It is often used for family gatherings and events, and it holds a special place in the hearts of many members of the royal family.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

<a href="https://kidskonnect.com/places/balmoral-castle/">Balmoral Castle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com</a> - KidsKonnect, May 11, 2023

Link will appear as Balmoral Castle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 11, 2023