The Queen: You can holiday in her Balmoral estate for only £15 per night

The Queen has opened eight cottages for holiday rentals on her Balmoral Estate, ranging from £555 to £1,620 per week.

The history of Balmoral

As stated on the official website, Balmoral Estate has belonged to the Royal Family since 1852, when Prince Albert decided to buy it for his wife, Queen Victoria. They first visited Scotland in 1848 and were so struck by its beauty that they kept returning.

Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone for the castle in 1953 after the original property was deemed too small to accommodate the Royal Family.

The estate, surrounded by mountains and lochs, has passed down through the generations, with each reigning Monarch keen to make improvements to the castle.

According to Wales Online, Balmoral Estate is worth a staggering £60.3 million.

A royal holiday for every budget

Balmoral Estate's website confirms the cottages can be rented all year round, though they 'are not available for the weeks during The Royal Visit.'

The Scottish Daily Express reports that holidaymakers can stay in the Colt Cottages for as little as £15 per person per night. The two-bedroom cottages lodge up to 5 visitors and run on a Saturday-to-Saturday basis.

According to The Daily Mail, there is limited availability for budget cottages. Indeed, a spokesperson for the estate urged holidaymakers to 'book now to avoid disappointment' for their 2023 getaways.

Those with a higher budget can splurge on the more luxurious three-bedroom Rhebreck Lodge at £1,620 per week.

Other royal getaways

According to Vogue, Balmoral isn't the only royal residence available to holidaymakers.

Holidaymakers can rent the Garden House in Sandringham, Norfolk. It is where the Queen famously spends the Christmas Holidays.

If ever in Wales, weary travellers can rest their heads at the Prince of Wales's Llwynywermod Estate. The Llwynywermod official website spotlights the sustainability of this retreat, with its wood chip boiler and renewable energy.

Royal Family enthusiasts can also stay in one of the Castle of Mey cottages. The Castle of Mey was home to the Queen Mother until her death in 2002.

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