Royal Family banned from decades old tradition after being kicked off estate
King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family have been barred from making use of a Scottish estate they have enjoyed ever since 1852
PA
King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family have been barred from making use of a Scottish estate they have enjoyed ever since 1852.
For decades the royals have had the right to shoot, stalk and fish on the Abergeldie estate in Aberdeenshire.
The 11,500 acre estate neighbours Balmoral which has been the Scottish home of the royal ever since it was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Upon purchase of the property, the then owner of Abergeldie granted the monarch and her family the right to use the land for leisure.
The 11,500 acre estate neighbours Balmoral which has been the Scottish home of the royal ever since it was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
PA
However, after the estate was put up for sale in 2020, the new owner has ended the royal lease.
Alastair Storey, 70, made the decision as he sought to revamp the estate.
His decision was confirmed in paper filed with the local authority.
Documents sent to Aberdeenshire Council read: "For the last 175 years, the Royal Family have leased the sporting rights at Abergeldie but this has now ceased, and will be actively run by the new laird.
"To facilitate the transformation and to effectively run the estate, new facilities will be required."
Storey paid £23 million for the 11,512-acre estate, between Balmoral and Birkhall.
The land will now be used for commercial shooting and documents submitted to Aberdeenshire council in July propose new accommodation to be built on the estate “for paying visitors to support the sporting activities on the estate”.
It is believed there is no bitterness between the new owner and the Royal Family over the decision.
King Charles and Princess Anne watch with their mother, the late Queen at Abergeldie Castle
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The land was bestowed to the Gordon family by James III of Scotland in 1482.
The leasing agreement for the royals’ shooting access was given to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, when he bought Balmoral.
Twenty-five years ago John Gordon increased the leasing fee and Queen Elizabeth agreed to pay extra.
The estate includes 34 homes, cottages, lodges and farmhouses, but does not include Abergeldie Castle.