King Charles’ £100 seaside summer home royal relative called ‘horrible’

King Charles III’s impressive property portfolio extends up and down the UK, including the 775-room Buckingham Palace in London and the idyllic Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Balmoral Castle is his most famous Scottish residence, but there’s also Birkhall and Holyroodhouse. One of his lesser-known properties in Scotland is the Castle of Mey in Caithness.

This castle is where King Charles is currently staying, marking the start of his annual summer break. It was once home to The Queen Mother, and it has been widely reported that the late monarch purchased the property for anywhere between £1 and £100 in 1952.

The mother of the late Queen Elizabeth II bought the home following the death of her husband, King George VI, and was known to spend three weeks there each August and another 10 days there in October.

While a favourite of The Queen Mother’s, Princess Margaret was not so impressed by the home, calling it “mummy’s drafty castle” and a “horrible place”.

While King Charles and Queen Camilla regularly visit the castle, it has been open to the public since 2002, after the Queen Mother passed away. Groups of up to 12 can book a Champagne tour of the 16th-century castle before enjoying a bespoke three-course menu created by a local chef.

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The meal is served at The King’s Table in the Dining Room, which His Majesty still uses, and guests can opt in for whisky or gin tasting in the Drawing Room, before enjoying live music performed by a piper.

© Andrew Milligan – PA Images

It is normally open to the public seven days a week between May and September, apart from when the King and Queen return there for a holiday in late July and early August.

Guests also have the opportunity to stay the night at the castle. The luxury Granary Lodge is a five-star guest house that overlooks the Pentland Firth, and visitors can holiday like royalty between April and October.

Summer at Balmoral 

© Bettmann Archive

After the Castle of Mey, Charles will head to Balmoral to continue his summer holiday. He will be joined by various members of his wider family as they all embrace time off from their royal duties. 

This has become a royal tradition, and pastimes at the estate include hiking, horse riding and fishing. Another common activity is picnicking and there’s even a dedicated picnic lodge for when the weather doesn’t allow alfresco dining.