King Charles' Royal Residence Announces Closure with Warning: 'Stay Safe Everyone'
Balmoral Castle is closing the gates to its estate
NEED TO KNOW
- Balmoral Castle unexpectedly closed to the public on Monday, Aug. 4
- The estate is famous as the royal family's summer escape for generations
- King Charles has been in Scotland for at least a week, but seems to be staying elsewhere
On Aug. 4, Balmoral Castle released a statement revealing that the estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, will be closed as Storm Floris sweeps the area.
"Balmoral will be closed to the public today, Monday 4th August, due to Storm Floris. Please do not travel to the Estate. We will be issuing refunds for tickets to visit today," said a statement shared to Instagram. "Stay safe everyone."
An update from the Met Office, the U.K.'s national weather and climate service, said that amber and yellow warnings for wind are in effect for the area.
"Storm Floris will bring a spell of unusually strong west or northwesterly winds to much of Scotland during Monday," the amber warning said. "Gusts of 50 to 70 mph are expected for many parts, and are likely to reach 80 to 90 mph on some exposed coasts, hills and bridges."
Balmoral Castle has been the royal family's summer escape since the reign of Queen Victoria and King Charles, 76, has continued his mother Queen Elizabeth's tradition of spending some of the late summer in Scotland.
Balmoral's unexpected closure on Aug. 4 meant that visitors had one less day to visit before it closes for the season on Aug. 10 — hinting at when the royal family may gather for their annual visit.
Balmoral's grounds, gardens and exhibitions have been open to the public through ticketed entry since April 1, in a schedule set to wrap next Sunday.
King Charles has already been in Scotland for at least a week and stepped out to attend reception for Caithness Communities in Thurso on July 28, appearing at the event close to another one of his homes in Scotland.
The reception was held just 30 minutes from the Castle of Mey, which is closed to visitors from July 24 to Aug. 8 — suggesting that the sovereign might be staying there.
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The Castle of Mey is a smaller property and newer acquisition to the royal family's real estate portfolio, and King Charles inherited the home from his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, upon her death in 2002.
The castle near Thurso is four hours north of Balmoral and the King attended another event in the area over the weekend, appearing at the 2025 Mey Highland Games in John O'Groats on Aug. 2.
