Balmoral

An Inside History of a Royal Retreat

Tom Quinn

The first definitive social history of Balmoral, telling the complete story of the castle and estate, the royal family at their leisure, and the people who have worked for the royals for so many generations.

For more than one hundred and fifty years, Balmoral has played host to the royal family at their most relaxed. This remote Scottish estate—extending to more than 50,000 acres—was the stage for Queen Victoria’s scandalous love affair with her servant John Brown; it was here that Edward VIII caused outrage by flaunting his domineering mistress Wallace Simpson; it was here too, in her favorite childhood home that Philip proposed to Princess Elizabeth.

Balmoral has witnessed the turmoil of Sarah Fergusson being banned and of Prince Andrew trying to gain his mother’s support after his disgrace—a strategy that led to a devastating breakdown in the relationship between Andrew and Charles. The narrative will look at how Queen Victoria and Albert first acquired and then rebuilt the castle and at how generations of royals have enjoyed entertaining, outdoor pursuits, and life off duty from 1852 until today, including Diana’s obsession with sunbathing and befriending staff, Andrew’s string of increasingly youthful girlfriends, William’s rows with Harry, Andrew, and Sarah; and Prince Philip’s perpetual irritation with his children.

Tom Quinn is the author of several books published in Britain, such as Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle; The Reluctant Billionaire: The Tragic Life of Gerald Grosvenor; Mrs Keppel: Mistress to the King; and Backstairs Billy: The Life of William Tallon, the Queen Mother’s Most Devoted Servant among others. He lives in London.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Tom Quinn’s Gilded Youth:

"Ever wonder what it was really like growing up in the Royal Family? Tom Quinn has the answer. It's as much about royal parents as is it about royal children. An absolutely fascinating read on the private royal family life.” Town & Country

"An eye-opening and deliciously juicy account.” People

"Biographer Quinn contends in this fleet-footed history that the child-rearing practices of Buckingham Palace have 'hardly changed in centuries.' Incisive character sketches and a dollop of below-stairs gossip add entertainment to this thoughtful, well-documented study. Royal watchers, take note.” Publisher's Weekly

Praise from Britain for Tom Quinn:

"Brisk and entertainingly damning.” The Observer (London)

“A deliciously revealing biography.” The Mail on Sunday (London)

“A prolific writer of books that explore England’s history, he uses his expertise to flesh out and bring context to some of the more recent controversies to emerge out of the palace.” Vanity Fair

“A sparkling account of the often very unregal goings-on at the palace. Richly laced with insider gossip, this is behind-the-scenes royal history at its most entertaining.” The Daily Mail