King Charles' Balmoral Boycott: Why Monarch Skips Sleeping in Beloved Scottish Castle for Second Year in a Row Revealed
King Charles III inherited Balmoral Castle when he acceded to the throne, but the monarch reportedly dislikes sleeping at the beloved residence.
Much like last summer, King Charles III reportedly only uses Balmoral Castle in Scotland for official entertaining and housing for guests and other visiting senior royals. His Majesty prefers to not sleep in the "drafty," castle since he already has another lavish residence nearby.
The King chooses to primarily stay at Birkhall, a manor house on Balmoral grounds he inherited from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, upon her 2002 death.
A source revealed the monarch, who is still battling cancer, stays at his years-long private home with Queen Camilla, where painting and gardening fill his late summer days.
"The king is sleeping a lot," they said. "He is not one to sit around doing nothing, so relaxing for him takes the form of reading, writing, painting and gardening. He has always loved throwing on his wellies and getting out in the garden, that’s his happy place."
Charles has spent a great deal of time at Birkhall over the years, using it as a private retreat where he enjoys nature and relaxation away from the public eye. He has referred to Birkhall as a very special place that holds fond memories, especially of time spent with his grandmother. It’s a more intimate and cozy residence compared to the grander Balmoral Castle, providing him with a sense of comfort and continuity in his personal life.
The remote estate is not just a residence but a sanctuary for King Charles, reflecting his love for Scotland, privacy, and connection to family history.
His Majesty is said to have retreated to the Balmoral Estate toward the end of July, which is the same summer vacation schedule the late Queen Elizabeth II kept. He will likely return full-time to London in either late September or early October, but this summer season near the Scottish Highlands has understandably been "far quieter" for the cancer-stricken sovereign.
However, and also in a similar fashion to his late mother, the King was quick to pause his holidays to visit the English town of Southport on August 20, to visit with the family of the victims of a violent attack.
The town experienced rioting after a tragic mass stabbing at a children's dance class which resulted in the deaths of three young kids and injuries to others. This incident ignited widespread unrest fueled by misinformation and far-right activism, which some felt was a reason that the King should have likely avoided the visit. However, the monarch's medical condition has another family insider concerned about how His Majesty keeps pushing forward with his work.
"I actually think William could have deputized for Charles at Southport," they said. "I have tremendous admiration for the incredibly brave way Charles has conducted himself over the past six months but he is not well, it is plainly apparent just from looking at him, and things can go wrong very fast with cancer."
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The Daily Beast reported on the insider revelations.
