Balmoral Castle 8 miles (13km) east of Braemar was bought by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1852 for a sum of £31,500 for 24,000 acres. The original building was a 16th-century tower house but a new castle was built for the Queen under the supervision of Prince Albert. Queen Victoria loved the Highlands and regularly attended the Braemar Gathering, a tradition that still exists in today's Royal Family. She also created the post of Queen's Piper after she and Albert had visited the Marquis of Breadalbane who has his own personal piper.
After Prince Albert's death in 1861, Queen Victoria secluded herself at Balmoral for many months and withdrew from public view. The Victorian Era was a time of romanticising the Highlands. There was a resurgence in tourism, tartan, music and writing. The novels of Sir Walter Scott were particularly popular and events such as Highland games enjoyed renewed interest due to the royal approval. The influence of Queen Victoria led many to undertake tours of the Highlands.
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Questions
- Explain fully how Queen Victoria's coming to Balmoral benefitted the Highlands through tourism.
- Queen Victoria's legacy (effects from the past) still lives on in Scotland's tourist industry today. In what way?