King Charles submits plans to turn part of Queen's 'favourite' royal home into wedding venue

is set to give Queen Elizabeth II's "favourite" Royal retreat a major makeover, with plans submitted to transform part of the Balmoral Estate into an exclusive wedding venue. Soon, members of the public could be saying 'I do' in the Queen's Building, mere steps from the iconic castle itself.

Spanning a vast 50,000 acres, is more than just a stately home; it's a fully operational estate complete with grouse moors, forests, and farmland. Unlike England, Scotland's laid-back approach to wedding locations means venues don't require a licence, as the celebrant carries this instead.

The proposal, now with Aberdeenshire Council, seeks to repurpose the building for " dinners, meetings and other events", promising that any music will be kept at a "low level" to avoid disturbances.

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Continuing a long-standing Royal tradition, King Charles spends his summer breaks at Balmoral, which perches on the River Dee's edge and boasts an impressive 52 bedrooms, alongside numerous reception rooms used by the monarch for official engagements.

Despite the grandeur of the main castle, King Charles and favour residing at the neighbouring Birkhall estate, once a cherished residence of the Queen Mother. The late Queen was known to visit Balmoral Castle every summer for week-long holidays until her death.

Her stays would commence in late July at Craigowan Lodge before moving into the castle once it closed to visitors in August. The Balmoral grounds held a special place in the late Queen's heart as proposed to her there in the summer of 1946, reports .

It was also the peaceful location where Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, according to a memo from her private secretary, Sir Edward Young. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth chose to stay at Balmoral to appoint the new prime minister, , rather than travelling to in London.

Marking 25 years of the Scottish Parliament in September, King Charles suggested that his mother "chose" to spend her last moments at Balmoral, despite potential logistical difficulties if she were to pass away in the Highlands. The King stated: "My late mother especially treasured the time spent at Balmoral, and it was there, in the most beloved of places, where she chose to spend her final days."

Balmoral has been a Royal residence since 1852, when Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, purchased the estate and its original castle. The existing Balmoral Castle was commissioned after the house at the time was considered too small.