King Charles has been given permission to expand a visitor building at Balmoral – with the new licence including scope for major events and exclusive weddings.
The royals are seeking to bring more and more people to their historic holiday home, with the “Queen’s Building” – just a few yards from world-famous castle – transformed into a huge dining area for tourists.
Various events and functions could take place, though estate bosses say these “will be rare throughout the year”.
This comes after the Deeside estate has been opened up to the public, with tours of the historic castle launched for the first time.
What’s planned for Balmoral?
Licensing papers submitted to Aberdeenshire Council show that the hall on the north of the estate would be turned into an events venue fit for a king.
The building, between the famous castle and the estate office and stables, was built in the late 1980s as staff accommodation and break rooms, with an adjoining canteen.
Last year it was converted to offer more dining space for the hordes of royal enthusiasts descending on the estate.
At the time, estate chiefs said the change would “allow us to make better use of the space for a multitude of functions and still cope with the mass tourism market”.
The venue will now end up hosting up to 277 guests inside the swanky space, with a further 144 on the outside patio.
A licence for the expansion was granted on Wednesday, October 30.
Balmoral needs council’s permission to play tunes
As part of the same licensing plea, Balmoral Estate was granted permission to sell booze – and to play music.
Council chiefs have waived certain rules to extend parties onto the patio.
Usually, outdoor drinking areas come with some conditions – including a ban on music.
The licensing plea acknowledges that these rules are “sensible when applied to urban premises”.
But they argued that there is “no such prospect of neighbours being disturbed” by any noise from the Balmoral outdoor area.
Although the licensing papers include reference to weddings, estate chiefs say they have no plans factored in for commercial ceremonies at present.
Balmoral no longer shrouded in secrecy
The 50,000-acre expanse has been part of royal life since Queen Victoria bought it in the mid-19th century.
It was thrown into the global spotlight in September 2022 when the Queen died at the Scottish retreat she adored all her life.
But until recently, the royals fiercely guarded their privacy at their Deeside getaway.
This new venture follows King Charles’ plans to give the public greater access to the historic estate.
Read more:
My trip INSIDE the Royal Family’s private Balmoral Castle holiday home
Honeymoons, heritage and heartbreak… What does Balmoral mean to King Charles?
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