Inside King Charles' lesser known 'hidden' home where royals go for romantic breaks
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The Royal Family's residences are among the most iconic buildings in the UK, attracting millions of tourists annually.
Buckingham Palace, the heart of London, and Windsor Castle, steeped in nearly a millennium of history, are well-known. The Windsors also privately own high-profile properties such as the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, their Christmas retreat, and the grand Balmoral Estate in the Scottish Highlands, where they escape the limelight for a few weeks each summer.
However, a lesser-known Royal residence is the focus of a new Channel 5 documentary: Birkhall.
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This relatively modest lodge house, close to Balmoral, is one of King Charles's favourite retreats, experts have revealed in 'Birkhall: The King's Secret Sanctuary'.
It's not just Charles who cherishes memories at this Scottish home. From Prince William to the late Queen, many royals have experienced significant moments in their love stories at this beautiful property, earning it the nickname "Honeymoon home" of the Royal Family, reports the Mirror.
Historian Professor Chandrika Kaul disclosed that "William apparently spoke to Kate's father and asked his permission to marry Kate on a weekend visit in Birkhall," and highlighted, "And he asked him before he asked Charles!".
(Image: Clarence House via Getty Images)
(Image: PA)
(Image: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)
Notably, William sought Michael Middleton's blessing before proposing to his longtime partner, marking yet another enchanting chapter at the historic Birkhall.
This Royal residence was also where Charles proposed to Camilla, who later told the media "I'm just coming down to earth," while showing her engagement ring in 2005. She famously accepted with "Of course!" – an event that shows Birkhall's unique significance for the couple now known as the King and Queen.
"I think when they land at Birkhall," commented Jennie Bond, former BBC Royal correspondent, "It's a case of really 'phew, here we are. We're going to enjoy one another's company, and we're going to walk, and we're going to sit, and we're going to read, we're going to have a little drink, and we're going to just be together.'".
"I think it is one of their very favourite place to be," she further elucidated. Another pundit noted that it represented the closest thing to a "marital home" for the King and Queen Consort.
Charles and Camilla, as well as other members of the Royal Family, have followed a family tradition by spending their honeymoon at Birkhall. The late Queen and Prince Philip also enjoyed their first weeks as newlyweds in the seclusion of this stunning Scottish countryside retreat.
Jennie Bond noted, "Quite a few newlyweds have chosen to spend their time at Birkhall," with expert Ken Wharfe adding that the Duke and Duchess of Kent did the same. Afua Hagan mentioned that Sophie and Edward also selected it for their honeymoon.
"It became known as the sort of honeymoon home," explained Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine.
The "hidden and secret" Birkhall was initially purchased by Prince Albert when he took over the lease of Balmoral. He intended his eldest son to use the property, but Prince Edward wasn't keen on spending time there, leading to the lodge house becoming something of a "Victorian Airbnb" according to the documentary.
In the 1950s, the Queen Mother took over the house and added an extensive wing to it, making it more suitable to host multiple guests.
After her death in 2002, Charles inherited the property and has since put his own touch on it, while preserving some poignant tributes to his beloved grandmother, with whom he shared a close bond.
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