Balmoral Castle (Scotland)

Balmoral Castle is located in dell'Aberdeenshire area in Scotland.

Purchased by King Robert II of Scotland (1316-1390), who used it as a hunting lodge, it was in 1390 by Sir William Drummond.

Here he was crowned King George IV in 1822. It became a royal residence in 1848 when Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert, decided to spend the summer. Finding the castle for their needs Prince Albert decided to expand the building, so that the first enlargement stone was laid by Queen Victoria in 1853.

Given the generational change ownership today expands to about 260 square kilometers. Even today Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh use it as a private residence summer. Balmoral Castle is not to be considered to no effect a "royal residence", as the official royal residence is the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (when the Royal Family is in Scotland). Although official army units of the Crown provide on-call at Balmoral, the castle remains a private residence of the Royal Family and the Sovereign does not engage in it any official public activity, just as in the case of Royal Lodge Sandringham. The Castle in the spring / summer months (but not from 31 July to early September or so, when the Royal Family is present) is open to the public for visits.