Can You Get Married at Balmoral Fortress?

After watching Kate Middleton say “I do” to Prince William on April 29, 2011, or witnessing Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tie the knot seven years later in 2018, chances are you’ll dream of getting your individual royal wedding ceremony. And whereas such an event will not be possible with out truly being (or marrying) a member of the British royal household (sorry!), latest strikes by King Charles III had us all questioning if it’d quickly be attainable to tie the knot at one of the beloved royal estates: Balmoral Fortress. In accordance with a number of information retailers, the king simply submitted plans with the Aberdeenshire Council to show the Queen’s Constructing, one of many properties on the Scottish property, right into a venue for conferences and different occasions. With enhancements and modifications to the format, the constructing would have the ability to accommodate 277 individuals inside and 144 individuals outdoors—which seems like greater than sufficient room for a marriage. Regardless of early media hypothesis, nonetheless, the property shut down whispers of weddings at Balmoral. Per the BBC, the citadel won’t facilitate {couples}’ nuptials regardless of Charles’ plans, which contain permitting stay music and alcohol consumption previous midnight.

Marriage ceremony venue questions apart, this is not the primary change the monarch proposed making to the household’s residence. Earlier this 12 months, Charles opened Balmoral to the general public for the primary time in over 170 years. Tickets for the primary guided excursions, priced between 100 and 150 kilos, offered out inside 24 hours of happening sale, The Guardian reported. With a considerable amount of public curiosity within the property, it’s a disgrace weddings aren’t within the playing cards—big-day bookings for the Queen’s Constructing can be simply as aggressive. Finally, the king’s resolution to carry non-wedding occasions at Balmoral could also be a part of a technique to assist decrease a number of the prices related to working the property for the royal household. The residence comes with a excessive price ticket, costing roughly 4 million kilos a 12 months to function. Charles’ latest launch of ticket gross sales has decreased a few of these charges, producing 500,000 kilos from 75,000 guests, The Telegraph reported. 

The property additionally has a wealthy historical past of romance. In 1852, Prince Albert bought the property for his beloved Queen Victoria, cementing its place within the British royal household. Queen Elizabeth II took a particular curiosity within the Scottish citadel, spending a lot of her time there from an early age. Outdated images present a younger Elizabeth sandwiched between her grandfather King George V and her grandmother Queen Mary in a carriage at Balmoral. And in 1946, Prince Philip proposed to Elizabeth following a month-long trip at Balmoral together with her household. Even after the births of her youngsters, the Queen continued spending time on the residence, reportedly even internet hosting barbecues for heads of state on the grounds. Even Charles and Princess Diana additionally shared a romantic second at Balmoral: Following their wedding ceremony, they launched into a two-week honeymoon, ending their travels with a keep on the citadel. 

Earlier than her passing, the Queen usually traveled to Balmoral in late July and remained there till October, Individuals reported. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited her on the residence up till her passing, with Kate and William bringing Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to the citadel in the summertime of 2022. Finally, it was additionally the place of her loss of life on September 8, 2022. The ultimate portrait of the Elizabeth was taken within the drawing room at Balmoral.