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Firstly, Balmoral is so large it\u2019s almost its own ecosystem: mountains, forests, valleys, arable pastures, lochs, grouse moors, and gardens<\/a> make up the varied topography. Successive members of the royal family have added to the estate, now adding up to a total 53,680 acres of land and 150 buildings, including King Charles III’s house at Birkhall, Craigowan Lodge, and several other cottages<\/a> (one, reportedly, is a secret hideaway of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).<\/p>\n MAY WE SUGGEST:<\/strong> Examining Princess Diana’s interiors style<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Balmoral is also a working estate \u2014 deer stalking, grouse shooting, forestry, and farming all take place on the land. Queen Elizabeth II<\/a> often used to ride on horseback or drive her beloved Range Rover over its rugged terrain \u2014 occasionally with terrified dignitaries inside. The rest of the family has been said to enjoy fishing, hunting, picnicking, and barbecuing, and Prince Philip was allegedly quite the grill-master during summer holidays.<\/p>\n That said, British monarchs aren’t the only protected residents at Balmoral; many endangered red squirrels live on-site and, if you\u2019re so inclined, you can watch them cavort around the estate via a live feed. Then, of course, there’s the royal frolicking. Balmoral has hosted some spectacular royal soirees over the years, including Prince Harry’s 32nd birthday party, and shooting parties are a regular occurrence \u2013 glamorous guests and all.<\/p>\n Traditionally, the Ghillies Ball reigns supreme; an annual late-summer tradition hosted by the monarch for the family \u2013 and, perhaps most importantly, staff \u2013 to mark the end of their yearly stay, beloved for its reel and piper celebrations, as established by Queen Victoria in 1852.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not to say everyone<\/em> who goes to Balmoral enjoys themselves. Many four- and five-star tourist reviews aside, Tony Blair said his visits were \u2018a vivid combination of the intriguing, the surreal, and the utterly freaky,\u2019 and remembered consuming drinks with the strength of \u2018true rocket fuel,\u2019 which presumably helped. Margaret Thatcher didn\u2019t fare much better: one official told the Guardian<\/em> \u2018she couldn\u2019t get away fast enough.\u2019<\/p>\n In the 1980s, Balmoral was also the place where Princess Diana and Prince Charles had their honeymoon (although reports suggest it wasn\u2019t quite the romantic getaway one might have dreamed up) and, as Prince Harry and Prince William revealed in the HBO documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy<\/em>, it\u2019s also the place they last spoke to their mother before she died.<\/p>\n Speaking of her own time at Balmoral, however, Princess Eugenie has always reflected fondly of summers spent with her family. \u2018Walks, picnics<\/a>, dogs \u2014 a lot of dogs, there\u2019s always dogs \u2014 and people coming in and out all the time,\u2019 she recalled. \u2018It [was] a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.\u2019<\/p>\n