Balmoral Castle’s history begins in 1390 with a small tower house built by the Gordon family on the banks of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire. It later passed to the Farquharsons in 1662 and was leased as a Highland retreat in the early 19th century. In 1848 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert rented the modest existing house, instantly fell in love with the area, and found the building too small. Four years later, in 1852, Prince Albert privately purchased the estate for £32,000. Between 1853 and 18

The Highlanders Pipes & Drums lead the Queen's Guard of Honour through Ballater to barracks Aug 2018 After the Queen was officially welcomed to Balmoral Castle with a Royal Guard of honour provided by Balaklava Company of the Royal Regiment of Scotland on Monday 6th August 2018, the honour guard return to their barracks in Ballater, Royal Deeside, Scotland. The honour guard march over the river Dee and through the town back to barracks, led by the Highlanders pipes and drums of 4 Battalion (4 Sc

The Balmoral highlanders/ bagpipes