King Charles’ Tragic Summer Bolthole: Where His Second Honeymoon Took Place

SCOTLAND always held a special place in the late Queen’s heart – and it’s the same for her son King Charles.

One of his most cherished residences is Birkhall, part of the Royal Family’s Balmoral estate, which he inherited when his grandmother the Queen Mother died in 2002.

Birkhall is located within the Balmoral estate in ScotlandCredit: Alamy

The house has been described as King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla’s matrimonial homeCredit: Getty

The property is so close to his heart that he chose it for his and Camilla’s honeymoon destination after their wedding in 2005.

The royal couple also spent New Year’s day there this year.

During the pandemic royal fans were treated to never-before-seen sneak peaks inside the home, as the couple conducted video call engagements from there while isolating.

Here, we take a closer look inside Birkhall and reveal why it’s such a special place for King Charles.

The huge house, originally built by the Farquharson clan in 1715, sits on 53,000 acres and has been extended several times by the Royal Family.

It first came into their possession in 1852 when Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, bought it as a gift for his son, the future King Edward VII.

Albert also bought Balmoral Castle for his wife, alongside its 50,000-acre estate, and lent Birkhall to the then Duke of York, who later became King George VI.

Queen Elizabeth II spent many summers there as a child with her parents and, like Charles, also honeymooned on the property with Prince Philip.

The then Prince Charles with his mother Queen Elizabeth in one of Birkhall’s rooms in 2009Credit: PA:Press Association

Tragic shock

For a while it was used to house staff for the Balmoral Estate and any overflow guests.

Tragedy struck in 1961, when the Queen Mother found her brother David Bowes-Lyon dead in bed at Birkhall from a heart attack.

When her husband died, the Queen Mother began living on the property full time again, and on her death it passed to grandson Charles.

King Charles has expressed his love for the cottage, describing it as “such a special place, particularly because it was made by my grandmother. It is a childhood garden, and all I’ve done, really, is enhance it a bit”.

In a BBC interview, he said: “One of the most marvellous things about [Birkhall] is it’s by this river called the Muick, and it has this wonderful sound of rushing water.

“When you are in the house it’s very calming and peaceful I think… it has a very special atmosphere. The house is rather wonderful.”

Lush estate

The outdoor space at Birkhall is massive and features a benchCredit: Getty

The couple’s Christmas card photo in 2020 was posed outside BirkhallCredit: AFP

King Charles is known for his love of nature and the environment

Birkhall’s sprawling gardens are spectacular, with vast lawns, vibrant flower beds and a bench from which the King and Queen can enjoy the breathtaking views.

The King is known for his passion for nature and the environment, and in 2020 he filmed a video from the Birkhall garden urging us not to take for granted how “precious” and valuable food is.

After a flood almost ruined much of the gardens in 2016, the King told a local butcher he was “devastated”.

Charles and Camilla’s Christmas card photo in 2020 saw them pose outside Birkhall’s grand entrance.

It features a large porch with wood panelling, and a chair either side of its duck egg coloured door.

It’s not known how many bedrooms the property has, but the King has kept many of his grandmother’s touches including her collection of framed Vanity Fair prints in the stairway.

When the King opened the new NHS Nightingale Hospital via Zoom in April 2020, it was from the house’s cosy Drawing Room.

There are trinkets everywhere, with a vase of lillies giving it a splash of colour, while photographs of his children and grandchildren adorn his dresser.

The King gave royal fans a glimpse of his home office in 2020 when he opened the NHS Nightingale HospitalCredit: Reuters

Camilla also has a private office in the Scottish homeCredit: PA

There’s a picture of the King with sons William and Harry and their wives Kate and Meghan from Prince Louis’ christening in 2018, and an adorable portrait of his mother as a 15-month-old baby, taken in 1927.

Camilla also has a private office at Birkhall, where she displays her own collection of family pictures, along with a busy bookshelf and desk.

She also conducted a call on behalf of the charity Silver Line from one of Birkhall’s sitting rooms in 2020.

Camilla was seen on a comfy-looking arm chair with one of the couple’s beloved Jack Russell Terrier rescue dogs on her lap.

In the background a tapestry appears to hang on the wall, in-keeping with its grand, traditional theme, along with a painting of Charles perched on an easel, piles of newspapers and books, and more family snaps.

It certainly feels like the sort of relaxed residence the couple can truly call home.

Camilla took part in a phone call for the charity Silver Line in 2020

The King salutes as a piper plays at Birkhall during a St Valery commemorationCredit: PA