At home with the Royals - King Charles III opens the royal private audience rooms - against Prince William's will
We have often gazed at the Royal Family from a distance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but now for the first time, intimate glimpses behind the scenes are possible in both the main residence in London and at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
This summer, the Royal Household opened the East Wing of Buckingham Palace to the public along The Mall, where one can see the "Centre Room" with its exit onto the most famous balcony in the world. The Chinese silk tapestries from the 18th century, the powerful chandelier, and the gilded mirror above the fireplace have been seen by almost all British Royals since Queen Victoria. But no one had ever seen the room and the balcony from the inside perspective until now.
King Charles III. gets close to his subjects
For a long time, King Charles had probably been considering that it was now time to give his subjects a more extended look behind the royal screens. When he succeeded his deceased mother Queen Elizabeth II, he seemed to aim for a more transparent monarchy right away: Not only did he become the first British monarch to broadcast his Proclamation as King live on television in September 2023 and make his cancer diagnosis public, but he also spoke openly about his chemotherapy during public appearances – quite unlike his daughter-in-law Kate, who, with her husband Prince William, had until then only shared as much private information as necessary.
Balmoral Tours offer intimate insights
However, the King made another decision this year that caused a stir: In addition to the new wing in Buckingham Palace, he opened up some of the private rooms of the royal family in Balmoral Castle, the private summer residence in Scotland, for the first time. Previously, visitors could only see the extensive park along the River Dee with its forests, lakes, and memorials for deceased family members and pets, as well as the ballroom annexed to the castle. Now, there are unexpectedly intimate insights into the lives of the Royals in their vacation mode during the £100 per person tours in small groups. It is learned that the new landlord personally supervised what is to be seen in the rooms still open until early August. From the royal portraits and landscape views on the walls to newly renewed carpeted floors – all curated by him.
From royal fishing rods and old crimes
During the tours, visitors can also discover other interesting details, such as the king's favorite fishing rods, which are displayed in one of the rooms, or the old crime scene photographs from Balmoral Castle that are part of the castle's history. The tours provide a unique opportunity to get a glimpse into the private lives of the royal family and learn more about their traditions and customs.
In this room, there are many renowned details to see. In one corner of the entrance hall, there are royal fishing rods with rubber soles next to each other, hidden under a staircase. Nearby, there's a surprisingly small dining room with polished Mahogany tables and leather-covered chairs. Three velvet cushions are inconspicuously placed under the sideboard, in case the royal grandchildren join for dinner. The entire space exudes the refined vacation vibe of a wealthy family's holiday home. The same ambiance is present in the elegant-cozy salon, where well-used gardening books are readily available in the bookcase, as well as worn-out crime novels. Charles and Camila are both avid readers.
This room was the historic site where the last official photograph with the late Queen was taken, in September 2022, when she welcomed the new Prime Minister Liz Truss to office. This room, along with the late Queen's study on the first floor of the Castle, is the only one that has been publicly accessible for interior shots until now.
Prince William's Objections
If it had been up to Prince William, it would have remained that way. According to what has become known about William's private circle, he couldn't really warm up to Charles' new vision of a more transparent monarchy. The thought of tourists thronging through the protected Balmoral room, where his children George, Charlotte, and Louis have been carefree in their holidays, did not appeal to him. But the King had the final say.
A friend of Charles told the British press that he is not as sentimental by nature as his eldest son. Except for Highgrove and Birkhall, the small cottage near Balmoral where he usually resides in Scotland with Camilla, Charles has always seen his residences as temporary accommodations and not as homes where he could feel at ease. And Charles is by nature someone who opens doors to people.
The Vision of Open Palaces
The King's vision, which sees the royal palaces and castles he now views more as public places than as private royal spaces, is expected to long-term make them more accessible to paying visitors in a suitable framework. This would gradually bring younger demographics closer to the Monarchy and, of course, also contribute to the return of the high building and personnel costs.
Walter Bagshot, the British constitutional theorist from the Victorian era, once said that the Monarchy should never let too much daylight fall on its magic, lest it lose its fascination. All subsequent monarchs have followed this principle. However, Charles III wants to take different paths. He probably fears that the old tactics may no longer be sufficient to maintain the bond between King and people, which is crucial for the continued existence of the taxpayer-funded Royal House.
He hopes to win over the public with targeted glimpses behind the scenes, using a royal "glasnost strategy," to make the Monarchy more modern and relevant. With the ubiquity of smartphones and social media posts, it's hardly possible to keep any details about the Windsors hidden for long.
Where is the Future of Monarchy Headed?
King or heir at the end should rightfully retain their power with their respective strategies, whether an expansion of transparency or the traditional seclusion of private life from the public is the right way for the future of the British Monarchy, can only time tell. But perhaps the solution lies, as it often does, in the middle - and Catherine, William's wife, could serve as an example for both father and son: She initially kept her own illness strictly within the closest family circle, but eventually, in the face of completely out-of-control false stories circulating about her, decided on her own initiative to tell the public very openly about her illness in a video and ask for patience.
Contrary to expectations, she has since appeared publicly twice at important national events: In June at the Queen's birthday parade and most recently at the Gentlemen's Final at Wimbledon – and was greeted with frenzied applause. "Glasnost light" could perhaps modernize the Monarchy.
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine, have stayed at Balmoral Castle during their summer vacations, enjoying the serene beauty of Scotland's scenery.
- Prince William had expressed reservations about King Charles III's decision to open some private rooms at Balmoral Castle to the public, fearing an intrusion into the children's privacy.
- Despite Prince William's objections, King Charles III, known for his open-door approach, saw the move as an opportunity to make the monarchy more transparent and accessible to the public.
- Balmoral Castle, being the private summer residence of the royal family in Scotland, now offers guided tours that provide a behind-the-scenes look into the life of the royals during their vacations, including the Queen Elizabeth II's study and the famous balcony where she had taken official photographs.
