Many couples dream of a fairytale castle where they will be treated like royalty on their wedding day.
And now they will be able to do so in the spectacular surroundings of Balmoral as the King looks to host exclusive events within the Royal estate.
Charles is wanting to transform the Queen’s Building – which just yards away from the world-famous Royal Deeside castle – into a wedding and events venue.
But it would remain one of the most exclusive locations in the country, with Royal staff promising these ‘events will be rare throughout the year’.
Licensing papers submitted to Aberdeenshire Council have outlined the estate’s proposals, with ‘weddings, dinners, meetings and associated events’ on the cards if councillors give the plans backing.
The King and Camilla visiting Deeside
It comes just months after the King opened up Balmoral Castle to the public for the first time in a series of sold-out summer tours, offering a rare glimpse behind the royals’ most prized retreat.
Queen Elizabeth II’s love for Balmoral was well known, with the late monarch having spent most summers at the 50,000-acre estate where the Royals have holidayed since Victoria.
And Charles and Camilla have continued with the tradition, with the King welcomed at the start of his summer break this year by a guard of honour.
The Queen’s Building, which is in the north of the estate, is where weddings and other events would take place if given the go-ahead.
Sat between Balmoral Castle and the state office and stables, it was built in the 1980s as staff accommodation and break rooms with an adjoining canteen.
Last year the facilities were revamped to provide more space amid a boom in tourism at the Royal Deeside estate, converted to offer more dining room for royal enthusiasts.
Part of the interior of the extended Queen’s Building
At the time they said they wanted to ‘update the buildings and create a focus for expanding visitor operations’ which would ‘allow the catering operation to seat more people undercover’.
The venue could now end up hosting 277 people inside, with another 144 on the outside patio.
The licensing application, which is to be considered by the local authority’s licensing board on Wednesday, is asking for permission to sell alcohol and play music.
Their application told planners: ‘The Queen’s building part of the premises may be used for weddings, dinners, meetings and associated events.
‘These events may involve live performances and dancing where alcohol may be sold up to 12.30am.
‘These events will be rare throughout the year. The building will also be used as a lounge bar/function room during parts of the year when the public does not have access.’
As part of the plan agents working on behalf of the estate also submitted floor layouts of what the new venue would look like.
Balmoral Castle has been the Highland home of the Royals since it was bought for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852.
The royals fiercely guarded their privacy during their time at the bolthole, but the public have recently been given greater public access to the historic estate by King Charles.
In September 2022 the eyes of the world descended onto its front gates after Queen Elizabeth II died within the grounds of the estate she adored.