Where is Balmoral Castle? Liz Truss to visit the Queen in Aberdeen as Boris resigns as PM

6 Sep 2022

The Scotsman

Where is Balmoral Castle Liz Truss to visit the Queen in Aberdeen as Boris resigns as PM

For the first time in her reign the Queen will appoint the new UK prime minister in her Scottish castle rather than at Buckingham Palace.

Liz Truss will make a 400-mile trip from Westminster today as she heads up to bonnie Scotland to meet the Queen at her private estate; Balmoral Castle.

The new Tory leader will be asked to form a government and become the UK’s prime minister.

Due to the 96-year-old monarch’s mobility issues this historic duty has been reorganised to be held in Aberdeenshire, rather than Buckingham Palace, for the first time ever.

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.

The Queen’s audience, known as ‘kissing hands’, is a key role that as the head of state she has undertaken with 15 new faces now including Liz Truss during her 70-year reign.

Where is Balmoral Castle?

Roughly 50 miles west of Aberdeen, located in the Aberdeenshire council area, is the Balmoral estate.

File photo dated 30/03/22 showing a general view of Balmoral Castle, in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire. The Queen is to remain in Scotland to receive Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his replacement, Buckingham Palace has said. The 96-year-old monarch, who has faced ongoing mobility issues, traditionally holds audiences with outgoing and incoming premiers at Buckingham Palace.

The royal family has owned the property since 1852 when Prince Albert originally bought it as a gift for Queen Victoria who mourned in its walls following the years after her husband’s passing.

Queen Elizabeth II usually spends her summer months at the grounds and in the past prime ministers have been invited to stay with her during this time.

How to get to Balmoral?

The castle is not expected to be open to visitors until April of 2023.

It’s also a very rural location so the VisitScotland website recommends using your own vehicle as public transport is limited.

To access the location by car, it is located off the A93 and there is parking available at Crathie which is only a short distance away.

By bus, services operated by Stagecoach Bluebird run from Aberdeen to Braemer, and there is a Balmoral stop at Crathie.

For visitors coming from afar Aberdeen has both an airport and railway station, from here you can connect to other services.

Are you allowed to visit Balmoral Castle?

The castle is, typically, open to public visitors between April and July each year.

Guests can enjoy the grounds, exhibitions, and shop at the gift shop or cafe between 10am to 5pm.

In 2022, the admission prices were as follows: free for anyone under 5, £6 for anyone between 5 and 16, and £15 for everyone else.

For those interested in a more immersive experience, the ‘Balmoral Expedition’ was offered this year which - for £300 - saw guests given hours-long tours of the estate via Land Rover.

When will Liz Truss meet the Queen at Balmoral?

Firstly, Boris Johnson will arrive at Balmoral at 11.20am so he can meet the Queen and formally tender his resignation.

Then, Liz Truss is expected to arrive at the Balmoral estate at 12.10pm today where she will be appointed as the UK’s next prime minister by the Queen.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on Monday that the new PM is then expected to leave Balmoral around 12.40pm in preparation to give her first speech at Downing Street at 4pm today.