The Scottish estate of Balmoral, the summer residence of King Charles III, has asked local authorities to be able to host weddings.
This request, which AFP was able to consult on Thursday, aims to obtain authorization to organize “weddings, dinners, meetings and associated events” in a building close to the castle, the “Queen’s Building”.
If permission is granted by Aberdeenshire local authorities at a meeting scheduled for October 30, the venue could accommodate up to 277 guests indoors, with a further 144 on an outdoor patio. The petition includes a request for permission to sell alcohol and play music “until half past midnight.” The request states that “these events will be rare throughout the year.”
The Queen’s building is located to the north of the castle, near the stables. It was built in the 1980s to accommodate the staff and canteen. It was transformed last year to accommodate a catering service for visitors.
The Balmoral estate, where Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96, covers 20,000 hectares of moorland, forest and farmland in northern Scotland, approximately 31 kilometers (19 miles) west of Aberdeen. It was Elizabeth II’s favorite royal residence.
Privately owned by the monarch, the castle was purchased by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, in the mid-19th century and has since become a favored summer residence for members of the royal family.
Its gardens have long been open to the public, as well as 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 an insight into royal life to the public.
Tickets for the guided tours were snapped up within 24 hours of going on sale despite prices exceeding 100 pounds sterling (130 euros) and 150 pounds (175 euros) with an English tea break.