The late Queen Elizabeth II's favourite residence, Balmoral Castle, is throwing open its doors for the first time this summer.

Queen Elizabeth stayed at Balmoral most summers

Queen Elizabeth stayed at Balmoral most summers

The British monarch - who died peacefully at the large estate house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in September 2022, aged 96 - spent many fond summers at the picturesque property with sprawling grounds.

And now, Royal fans will be able to visit parts of the castle, which is still in use by King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, and the Royal Family.

Guided tours will take place from July 1 to August 4, with small groups of up to 10 people per tour.

Tickets for the “castle interior tour” are priced from £100 or £150, including afternoon tea.

A description of the tour reads: “They will take you on a historical journey through several of the beautiful rooms within Balmoral Castle.

“You will learn about the origins of the castle and how it has been loved by generations of the royal family.

“Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to present day, where you can see how rooms within the castle are used today by their Majesty’s The King and Queen and other members of the royal family.”

Upon entering the ballroom, visitors will take in Charles’ watercolour paintings of Balmoral, Highgrove and Sandringham.

Outfits worn by Charles and Camilla, the late Queen and The Queen Mother are also on display.

The Royal Family has owned the estate since 1845 when Prince Albert purchased it.

Margaret Rhodes, the queen's late cousin, once said: "It was a life of picnics and paddling around."

Elizabeth and her late husband, Prince Philip, would stay at Balmoral from July until October and would often be seen riding her beloved horses.

Her granddaughter, Princess Eugenie, 34, said in the 2016 documentary, 'Our Queen at Ninety': "I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands."