King Charles is currently in the Bahamas, the start of a nine-day tour of the Caribbean, but back in the UK, his beloved Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, has experienced disruption. The team working at the royal residence, likely with Charles' permission, made the decision to close the property amid a severe weather warning.
The iconic castle and its grounds were forced to close on Tuesday and the notice read: "Due to the weather warning in place for strong winds, Balmoral will be closed today (Tuesday 27th) for the safety of our visitors and team.
"If you have booked general admission your ticket will be refunded, and if you have booked a tour, a member of staff will be in contact with you.
"We’re sorry for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Please take care if you are travelling in the area, and we look forward to welcoming you to Balmoral another time."
This comes after the home was also closed on Sunday, due to the Amber warning in place in the area. Meanwhile, in Norfolk, the Sandringham parkland was also closed to visitors, as the public were told to "hold onto your hats" amid high winds.
At present, it appears that Balmoral will be open for the rest of the week, with no announcements made thus far.
Balmoral's previous closures
This is a seasonal occurrence at Balmoral, due to its northerly location in Aberdeenshire, as the area is often battered by strong winds, storms and snowfall. These closures have occurred with increasing frequency throughout 2025 and into 2026.
In March this year, a local bridge collapsed following snowfall, which had to be closed off to both vehicles and pedestrians for safety, and notices were put out on the Balmoral social media pages for potential visitors.
Why is King Charles in the Caribbean?
© GettyThe Caribbean royal tour - taking place from 27 October to 4 November - is to "celebrate the communities, cultures and nature within the Commonwealth family," Buckingham Palace said.
However, the tour is particularly contentious, with Charles in the centre of a debate dating back to the slave trade. He is under the spotlight about the payment of reparations - compensation from countries that took part in the slave trade.
Speaking at an event in the Bahamas, the monarch didn't shy away from Britain's past. "Some of what is best in Bahamian culture today - the most joyful, the most hopeful, the most bright - was born out of darkness. It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering of the past," he said.
