Prince Edward’s West End star ex-girlfriend has shared a rare glimpse into the Royal Family’s famous Balmoral “test”, revealing what life is really like behind closed palace doors. Ruthie Henshall, 59, who dated the King’s youngest brother in the 1990s, lifted the lid on her “surreal” experience at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved 50,000-acre Scottish estate.
An invitation to Balmoral is widely seen as a rite of passage for potential royal partners – informally dubbed the “Balmoral Test”. Past guests have famously included the late Princess Diana in 1980, Catherine, Princess of Wales in 2009, and Meghan Markle in 2018. Harriet Phillips, Peter Phillips’ new wife, had her Balmoral test in August of last year, after Princess Beatrice‘s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, undertook his own in 2019. Speaking on HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast, Ms Henshall revealed that while she had no idea what to expect, she was treated to the ultimate VIP experience, complete with her own personal maid.
But despite the royal grandeur, the Olivier Award-winning icon confessed that the family’s off-duty behaviour was surprisingly down-to-earth, featuring outdoor cookouts entirely free of protection officers. She added that King Charles – then Prince of Wales – himself was on hosting duty, serving up potent drinks to get the party started.
“They were all quite jolly. I think everyone was jolly by the time we’d had a few martinis,” Ms Henshall laughed. “Charles was manning the bar. He made me a very strong martini. He probably did that on purpose.”
During the weekend, guests are expected to know royal protocol inside out, keep small talk flowing and master the art of a quick wardrobe change. They have to be ready to swap muddy hiking gear for black-tie glam at a moment’s notice, all while blending in effortlessly with the family’s rugged lifestyle.
Anyone who complains about the rain or slips up on etiquette quickly loses any spot in the inner circle – a lesson learned the hard way by Margaret Thatcher, who famously detested the trips and dubbed them her personal “purgatory”.
Balmoral Castle holds a deeply emotional place in the hearts of the Royal Family. It was famously the late Queen’s favourite residence and the place where she passed away in September 2022.
King Charles has proudly maintained the tradition, continuing to spend his summer holidays at the Highlands retreat.
Princess Beatrice previously opened up about why the estate is so special for the family, calling it “the most beautiful place on earth”.
“I think Granny is happiest there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands,” she previously shared. “Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs!
“Family-wise, we’re all there, so it’s a lovely base… where you just have room to breathe and run.”
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