Balmoral Castle’s website crashes as £100 tickets to visit royal retreat sell out

Balmoral Castle will open its doors to the public for the very first time this summer – but despite charging a hefty £100 per head, demand has tipped the landmark’s website over the edge.

Those hoping to book a guided tour of the Royal Family’s Highland retreat have found themselves stuck in virtual queues as people rushed to buy tickets.

The incredible castle has long allowed visitors to walk its grounds and huge estate, but visitors have never been able to see inside its beautiful rooms.

For the first time since it was completed in 1855, experienced guides will be leading private tours through Balmoral Castle’s historic halls and rooms.

The tour includes access to the ballroom, where a collection of King Charles’s watercolours are displayed, capturing Balmoral, Highgrove and Sandringham.

There also outfits worn by Charles, Camilla, the late Queen Elizabeth II (who passed away at Balmoral in 2022) and the Queen Mother.

The tours will teach people about the origins of the castle, from the purchase of it by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert all the way through to the present day, and how the rooms are used by members of the Royal Family.

But Balmoral Castle is a historically important and therefore expensive estate to maintain, and the ticket prices reflect that – much to many people’s horror.

Prices for the tours start from £100, or go up to £150 if you want to chuck in afternoon tea.

Despite the pricey admission fee, tickets for Balmoral Castle tours appear to have already sold out.

There were a limited number put on sale today – only 40 issued each day for tours between a trial period of 1 July to 4 August.

Balmoral Castle announced the limited run of dates to test how the building copes with increased footfall.

And then the doors will close again ahead of King Charles’ annual break to the Scottish estate in the summer.

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Featured image: Unsplash, Cassie098