It was said to be the Queen’s favorite place, the Scottish estate of Balmoral Castle. For this reason, the royal family has met at the site again and again over the past few decades. In his memoirs, Prince Harry tells interesting details that are said to have happened behind the thick castle walls.
In 1852 Prince Albert bought Balmoral Castle in Scotland as a gift for his wife Queen Victoria. She loved the Scottish landscape, as did Queen Elizabeth II later. The castle was originally built in 1390 and has seen a lot as a result, but up to Charles, for example, certainly no heir to the throne who did gymnastics in underwear.
Prince Harry reveals in his memoirs that some things still remind of Queen Victoria. A portrait of Queen Victoria hangs on the first floor of Balmoral Castle, the two brothers Prince William and Prince Harry always bowed when they passed the painting. Not only because Queen Victoria is one of her ancestors, but also because her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II adored her so much. At some point, this process was simply part of passing the picture.
Prince Harry himself almost got the name Albert from his father Charles, in reference to the late buyer of the Scottish castle. But Princess Diana is said to have vetoed it, so he became Prince Henry Charles Albert David, or Prince Harry for short, as he is known.
The memoirs, which were already available for a short time on Thursday due to a mistake in Spain and which is why details of the book, which will be officially published on January 10, are circulating everywhere, are called “Spare” (German title: “Reserve”). Among other things, Prince Harry says that he always had to play “second fiddle” to his older heir brother Prince William, to which the title of the book refers.
The role of “second fiddle” is also said to have made itself felt at Balmoral Castle, the 38-year-old writes that Prince William was always allowed to claim the larger part of the room and the larger bed for himself just because he was the heir to the throne. But Prince Harry admits, at least when Balmoral was divided up, that it didn’t bother him at the time. He also mentions that his father, King Charles III, is said to have once said to his mother, Princess Diana, that she had borne him an heir and a reservist and her job was done.
Prince Harry also shares a very funny memory with his readers. His father is said to have liked to practice handstands at Balmoral Castle. At that time, Prince Charles still intended to use the handstand to counteract back pain and a stiff neck, which he is said to have contracted from time to time through polo games. But the funniest detail is that he only did the handstand in boxer shorts, leaning against a door or hanging from a pole.
Sources: Travelbook, People
