King Charles praises Balmoral in guidebook foreword

King Charles has described Balmoral Castle as holding a "uniquely special place" in the hearts of the royal family, offering a poignant reflection on the Scottish estate where his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, spent her final days. The monarch's comments appear in the foreword to a new official guidebook about the historic property.

In his writing, the King detailed the estate's deep familial roots, noting it has been the "cherished Scottish home" of his family since it was purchased by Prince Albert in 1852. He praised its architecture of "startling individuality" and its "precious, almost sacred, surrounding landscape," describing it as a place of timelessness that refreshes the soul.

The foreword includes a particularly personal tribute to the late Queen. "My late mother particularly treasured her time at Balmoral," Charles wrote. "It was here, in these most beloved of surroundings, that she chose to spend her final days." Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at the Aberdeenshire estate on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.

The 80-page guidebook, titled Balmoral and written by journalist and historian Mary Miers, opens with a watercolour painting of the castle created by Charles...