His Majesty King Charles III has inherited Balmoral Castle and its surrounding estate from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and both have expressed a keen love for Scotland over the years. Now, the monarch is allowing members of the public to visit the estate for free for the rest of the season, but only on limited days, so the team has shared all the details online.
Alongside a tree-framed picture of Balmoral, the caption read: "Thank you to everyone who has visited Balmoral throughout the autumn season.
"From Wednesday 4 November, we’ll move to our winter opening hours. Admission to Balmoral will be free, with no tickets required. Please note that the Castle Ballroom will be closed during this period.
"Throughout November, Balmoral will be open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
"For further information and opening times for the remainder of 2026, please visit our website. Link in bio."
The catch is that this will not include access to the house itself that will remain closed, unless for booked tours. Interior castle tours are still available on specific days, but cost £110 per person. This golden ticket includes seeing rooms that are still used by today's royal family.
The website explains: "Our experienced guides will explain about the origins of the Castle and how it has been loved by generations of the Royal Family; from the purchase of the Balmoral Estate by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to the present day, where rooms within the Castle are used today by Their Majesties The King and Queen and members of the Royal Family."
A special royal retreat
© GettyThe castle was first acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852, and boasts 50,000 acres of idyllic land. The property is privately owned by King Charles III, and not part of the Crown Estate. Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, spent her final days at the castle, and she was the first monarch to die at Balmoral when she passed away in September 2022.
It has long been synonymous with royal summers, as the family retreat here away from their royal duties for relaxed pastimes like horse riding, walking and enjoying picnics.
A festive event this weekend
While we may not be in December yet, Balmoral will be feeling festive this weekend as it will be hosting a Christmas artisan market between 6 and 9 November.
It is hosted by Exclusively Highlands, and the tented village set within the grounds of Balmoral Castle will showcase Scottish art, crafts, food and drink.
