It’s also home to one of the Queen’s favorite places – Prince Charles (73) and Lady Diana († 36) also used the picturesque retreat in 1981 for their honeymoon: Craigovan Lodge.
Now Queen Elizabeth II (95) wants to completely rebuild the property on the Balmoral country estate in the Scottish Highlands. It is said to already have a wheelchair-accessible lift – the safety technology is still to come.
As royal observers suspect, the Queen would like to spend more time at the idyllic property, such as “Sundaywrites. She typically stays at Craigowan Lodge twice a year – in April and for two weeks in the summer.
The seven-bedroom rustic stone house is just a mile from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire – the lodge was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852 when they acquired the Balmoral Estate.Photo: Tim Graham / Photo Library / Getty Images
The lift (Lifton brand) can carry up to three adults or one passenger in a wheelchair, so the 95-year-old queen can now get to her bedroom without using the stairs. Cost point: about 23,000 euros.
Digging that deep makes sense to the Queen. Because Elizabeth isn’t so good on her feet anymore. Recently it became known that she could no longer walk her corpse. In the pictures, she was also seen with a walking stick.
A few weeks ago, Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Rear Admiral James MacLeod and Major General Alden Miller (right) to an audience – he is holding a walking stick in his left handPhoto: Steve Parsons / DPA
What else is to be installed a full range of security measures, ie: additional surveillance cameras on the street, a modern intercom system and a high security entrance.
Obviously, the country’s assets should be completely sealed. A plan of new measures to prevent vehicles or tourists from coming home has been clearly submitted to the municipal administration.
Security gates, intercoms and street cameras are expected to be approved in the summer. The only other access road to the remote cottage already has a security gate, fence, police guard post and surveillance cameras as well.
According to The Sun, a Balmoral insider says: “For many years we’ve felt that this would be the perfect place for the Queen to spend more time as she grows up. It’s one of her favorite places in the country.”
Charles and Diana honeymooned at the beautiful estate in 1981Photo: PopperPhoto via Getty Images
And further: “With the right lift and new safety measures, it can be effectively taken off, allowing it to spend more time there than it did in its late ’90s.”
But what does the Queen really intend to do with the country’s wealth? It was recently announced that she would be retiring from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle for good.
So will the flamboyant monarch at Craigowan Lodge retire?
Royal biographer Penny Junor (72) doesn’t see it this way: “She loves Scotland, but I don’t think she does.” (Cottage, DR) Will use all year round. It is a good place for summers, but in winters it is quite cold and deserted.”
And an unnamed source close to the Queen couldn’t be clearer: “This is not a retirement home.”
Freelance twitter maven. Infuriatingly humble coffee aficionado. Amateur gamer. Typical beer fan. Avid music scholar. Alcohol nerd.
