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The summer residence of King Charles III and the beloved palace of his mother, the late Elizabeth II, could soon open its doors to the public for very special occasions – weddings. A privilege, which, however, will not be available to everyone.
Have you always dreamed of getting married in one of the official residences of the royal family? Soon it will be possible at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. A Scottish estate, the summer residence of King Charles III, has asked local authorities to allow weddings – a privilege which, however, should not be extended to the general public.
This application seeks permission to hold “weddings, dinners, meetings and related events” in the Queen’s Building, a building close to the castle. If permission is granted by Aberdeenshire Local Authority at a meeting scheduled for October 30, the venue could accommodate up to 277 guests inside and a further 144 on the outdoor terrace.
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The petition includes a request for permission to sell alcohol and play music “until after midnight”. The survey, however, states that “those events will be rare throughout the year.” A spokeswoman for the famous residence, however, clarified on Thursday afternoon that “Balmoral does not plan to host weddings as a commercial enterprise” to calm the excitement of couples who were tempted to propose a royal union.
Balmoral, where Elizabeth II died
The “Queen’s Building” is located north of the castle, near the stables. It was built in the 1980s for staff and a canteen. It was remodeled last year to serve food for visitors.
Balmoral Estate, where Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 aged 96, extends over 20,000 hectares of grassland, woodland and farmland in the north of Scotland, approximately 31 kilometers west of Aberdeen. It was the Queen’s favorite royal residence.
The monarch’s private castle was purchased by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, in the mid-19th century and has since become a privileged summer residence for members of the royal family. Its gardens have long been open to the public, as has its ballroom.
But this year the rest of the castle was opened more widely to visitors for the first time as part of King Charles III’s plans to give the public an insight into royal life. Tickets for the tours were snapped up within 24 hours of going on sale, although prices were in excess of £100 (€130) and £150 (€175) at the tea break. To be able to get married in Balmoral, you will certainly have to wait a little longer.
Source: Le Figaro
