Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days in Aberdeenshire, Scotland at the Balmoral Estate, her private residence where she has been known to be “the most happy.”
Just as generations of the Royal Family before her, the queen visited the estate on annual retreat during the summer.
September 1952: Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles and Princess Anne in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland. Charles is celebrating his 4th birthday.
(Photo by Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
It’s where she spent a portion of her honeymoon with her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
It’s where she recently appointed Britain’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss on Sept. 6.
The 50,000-acre country estate is also where she was staying with her grandsons William and Harry when their mother, Princess Diana of Wales was killed in a car crash on Aug. 31, 1997 in Paris, France.
File photo dated 1/9/1972 of Queen Elizabeth II sitting in her study at Balmoral with a dog under her chair. During her reign, the Queen owned more than 30 corgis, with many of them direct descendants from Susan, who was given to her as an 18th birthday present by her parents in 1944 and was so loved that she accompanied Princess Elizabeth on her honeymoon.
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Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother, and husband Prince Albert, officially secured the purchase of Balmoral in 1852 for £32,000, according to Historic Environment Scotland.
When Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made their first visit to Scotland in 1842 and began looking for a home in the country, they were recommended the area of the estate by the queen’s physician.
The Scottish Baronial style Balmoral castle was built between the years of 1853-1856.
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh (1921 – 2021) and their sons Prince Edward (second from left), Prince Charles (second from right) and Prince Andrew (right) in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in Scotland, UK, 20th September 1979.
(Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Even after the Prince Albert suddenly died of typhoid in 1861, Queen Victoria continued to make visits to Balmoral every year, according to the Royal Household website. In May, she’d visit for a month and in the fall, she’d stay for up to three months.
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After Queen Victoria died in 1901, generations of the Royal Family continued to frequent Balmoral.
Much of Queen Elizabeth’s childhood was spent in Scotland at the Balmoral Estate. It became a favourite residence for her and her family each year during the months of Aug. and Sept., according to the Royal Household.
The Queen with President Eisenhower at Balmoral. 28th August 1959.
Mirrorpix/Courtesy Everett Collection
“Like Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth enjoyed going there to be able to go for walks in the country and enjoy time with her family,” Karenza Sutton-Bennett, a professor in the English department at the University of Ottawa, told Global News. “The castle and land are particularly special for the fact that it is so secluded and allows for privacy away from the press and public duty.”
Queen Elizabeth II of England at Balmoral Castle with one of her Corgis, 28th September 1952.
Getty Images
Just days before her death, Queen Elizabeth spoke of her time at Balmoral while dining with Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields.
“She went back to her time when she was very young staying in Balmoral, spoke very warmly of her time with her father and her mother there,” he said to Reuters.
“She had a phenomenally good memory for somebody of her age.”
Queen Elizabeth II during an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5 Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland at the gates at Balmoral, as she takes up summer residence at the castle, on August 9, 2021 in Ballater, Aberdeenshire.
(Photo by Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“I think Granny is the most happy there,” the queen’s granddaughter, Princess Eugenie, said speaking of Balmoral, during the documentary, Our Queen at Ninety.
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Princess Eugenie was among the senior members of Britain’s royal family who greeted well-wishers outside of Balmoral on Saturday. The daughter of Prince Andrew, was seen wiping away tears as she read messages attached to flower bouquets.
Queen Elizabeth II horse riding on the Balmoral estate, Scotland, Great Britain, September 1982.
(Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed Scottish country dancing, according to the Royal Household website. During her stay at Balmoral each year, the Queen would host annual dances for neighbours, estate and castle staff, and local community members.
The dances were known as the Ghillies’ Balls.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit a farm on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, during their Silver Wedding anniversary year, September 1972.
(Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Balmoral Estate is a working estate, meaning it contributes to the local economy, according to the Royal Household.
Throughout much of his life, the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in the management of the estate. He developed a vegetable garden next to Queen Mary’s flower garden and planted Oak along the bank south of the cricket pitch.
Now, Balmoral’s perimeters are rimmed with bouquets of flowers and other tokens of condolence as the nation moves forward without their longest-reigning monarch.
Death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral, Scotland, United Kingdom.
(Credit Image: © Stephen Lock/i-Images via ZUMA Press)
— With files from Global News’ Rachel Gilmore, Chris Jancelewicz, Aaron D’Andrea & Reuters
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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