A royal website crashed today as fans jumped at the chance to visit the late Queen’s favourite residence.
King Charles is opening Balmoral Castle to the public for the first time in 169 years.
Following the announcement, the castle website was unable to cope with the number of visitors trying to buy tickets.
The message on the website page read: “As we are currently experiencing a high demand for bookings, you have been placed in a queue.”
Balmoral Castle is considered the late Queen's favourite residence
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Small groups of people will be allowed to walk around the interior of the Scottish castle in a month-long trial this summer.
Balmoral Castle, which is situated in the Scottish Highlands, is widely believed to have been the late Queen’s favourite residence.
Queen Elizabeth spent weeks on holiday during the summer at the stunning estate with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The castle is also where the Queen spent her last days, before passing away on September 8, 2022.
Charles and his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the Balmoral Estate in 2021
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Guided tours will be available from July 1 to August 4, and group tours will be limited to 10 people.
Tickets to view the “castle interior” are selling for £100 and the tour with added afternoon tea costs £150.
A general admission ticket for the castle to see the grounds, gardens and exhibitions sells at £17.50 for an adult ticket and children under five go free.
The tickets are limited to 40 per day and are likely to sell out very quickly.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with their children on the grounds of Balmoral
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A royal source has said that the move to open up the castle is in line with the King’s wish to make royal residences more accessible to the public.
However, the source also noted that Balmoral is not set up as a large-scale visitor attraction like Buckingham Palace.
This is why the programme is going through a month trial period with restricted numbers to see how the historic building copes with the visitors.
Previously, most of the castle was out of bounds to the public with tours limited to the ballroom, the grounds and the gardens.
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Queen Elizabeth in the grounds of Balmoral in 1952
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Now, visitors will be able to view the green-carpeted drawing room, the red corridor, the family dining room, the pages’ lobby and the library.
The Balmoral estate announced on Tuesday: “For the first time since the castle was completed in 1855, we have been granted permission to take you on a private tour with our experienced guides.
“They will take you on a historical journey through several of the beautiful rooms within Balmoral Castle.
“You will learn about the origins of the Castle and how it has been loved by generations of the Royal family.”