Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty
From their engagement to Her Majesty’s death, Balmoral Castle has served as a sentimental and romantic place forQueen ElizabethandPrince Philip.
On Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement thatQueen Elizabeth"died peacefullyat Balmoral." She was 96
For decades, Balmoral held a special place inQueen Elizabeth’s life — from her childhood to her decades-long relationship withPrince Philip, whodied at 99 years old in April 2021.
Hulton Archive/Getty
Thestunning Scottish hideawayhas been in the family since 1845 when Prince Albert purchased the castle and sweeping estate.
For more on Queen Elizabeth, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
In the summer of 1946, a youngPrince Philipspent several weeks at Balmoral and reportedly proposed there. Elizabeth’s father King George VI agreed to the union, and the couple’s joy was palpable.
Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty
“I am sure I do not deserve all the good things which have happened to me,” Philip wrote to his bride at the time. “To have been spared in the war and seen victory … to have fallen in love completely and unreservedly, makes all one’s personal and even the world’s troubles seem small and petty.”
The two would go on to enjoy their honeymoon at Balmoral after tying the knot in November 1947.
After welcoming four children –King Charles III,73,Princess Anne, 72,Prince Andrew, 62, andPrince Edward, 58 – Balmoral was a staple getaway forQueen Elizabeth,Prince Philip, and their whole family –corgis anddorgisincluded!
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
The Queentraditionally retreatedto the home every August. This year, shetraveled there from her residence in Windsor at the end of July.
On Tuesday, just two days before her death, the Queen appointed the new prime minister of the United Kingdom at Balmoral for thefirst timein her 70-year reign. In a photo from the meeting, the monarch was all smiles before a crackling fireplace.
RELATED VIDEO:Queen Elizabeth’s Coffin Seen for First Time as It Travels from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh
When the family is not in residence, the castle is open to the public and it’s even possible to book a stay on the estate,arranged via the website.
source: people.com
