King Charles’ ‘paradise’ Balmoral Castle with 50,000-acre fairytale grounds – tour inside

The Balmoral Estate covers around 50,000 acres and has the most amazing views of stunning Scottish countryside. Outdoor pursuits are plentiful here and the royals use it for hiking, horse riding and fishing.

It has been reported that the late Prince Phillip once took a bulldozer to a garden at Balmoral in one of the many bids to make his mark on the property. He is pictured here alongside Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. It shows them in a field with long grass and yellow flowers with Highland Cattle and a stone building behind them.

Another legacy left at the property by Prince Phillip is in the large kitchen garden, which is still harvested between August and October during the royal family’s summer holiday. He also added a vegetable patch adjoining Queen Mary’s flower garden and a water garden to the southwest of the castle.

There is a range of Victorian glasshouses and a large conservatory within the beautiful gardens, which display flowering pot plants throughout the year.

This Garden Cottage sits within the grounds of Balmoral and was used at times by Queen Victoria for taking her breakfast and writing diaries. The monarch famously called Balmoral a “paradise in the Highlands” and wrote in her diary: “All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils.”

Just days before she passed away, Queen Elizabeth II was pictured in the castle’s grand drawing room. The space features two mint green sofas and matching curtains can be observed in the mirror, framing the window. A marble fireplace is a focal point with a traditional log fire and large gold-framed paintings hanging on either side. 

An archived image from 1976 shows that the room’s decor has stood the test of time, with the same covered sofa and general overall style. 

In a World Book Day post, shared by Buckingham Palace, the library of Balmoral Castle was revealed, and in this 1976 photograph, the extensive collection of books was revealed. 

The room features wooden bookshelves, an ornate desk and a statement patterned sofa.

A photo taken in 1972 revealed the then-Queen’s study featuring tartan carpets, floral curtains and a wooden desk that sat in a bay window. It is unknown if King Charles uses this place to work now he is the monarch.