Buckingham Palace on Thursday announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle.
Balmoral Castle, 40 miles west of Aberdeen, Scotland, is just one of over 20 residences owned and occupied by the royal family.
The estate spans around 50,000 acres and includes a working estate comprising approximately 150 buildings, moors, farmland, Highland cattle and herds of deer. It also includes Craigowan Lodge, one mile away from the main castle where the royal family are known to frequent.
Balmoral Castle, pictured near Ballater, on March 30, 2022.
andrew milligan/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe castle gardens and castle grounds have been open to the public during the tourist visiting season in the summer months until the Queen spends her annual summer stay at the estate.
Unlike other official residences such as Buckingham Palace in London or Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Balmoral Castle is private property, meaning revenue generated does not go to Parliament or the public purse.
The estate dates all the way back to the 1300s but was in royal hands during Queen Victoria and Prince Albert reign in the 1800s. Prince Albert purchased the remainder of the lease on Balmoral in 1848 when its owner died, for £32,000 — which in today’s terms equates to around £4.9 million.
More recently, new U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss was welcomed at Balmoral by the Queen on Tuesday. Historically, the Queen has held audiences with a new prime minister at Buckingham Palace, in London.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, left, welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.
APQueen Elizabeth II recently made headlines over her health when she pulled out of a virtual private meeting on Wednesday with ministers on state affairs.
