King Charles Says Queen Elizabeth 'Chose to Spend Her Final Days' in Scotland: 'Most Beloved of Places'

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Elizabeth II.Photo: Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty

King Charlesis opening up about his late motherQueen Elizabeth’s final days at Balmoral.

Charles, 75, revealed in a speech addressing the Scottish Parliament on its 25th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 29, that Elizabeth, “chose” Balmoral as her final resting place because of her love for both her estate and the country as a whole.

Before this Charles shared that Scotland “always had a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself” and that his “beloved grandmother was proudly Scottish.”

King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II pictured in June 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

Queen Elizabethdiedat the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Sept. 8, 2022.

The late monarch famously traveled to Balmoral at least once a year — typicallyat the end of summerwith the rest of the royal family and her late husbandPrince Philip.

Charles’ speech discussing his late mother comes after he and Camilla, 77, were spotted attending church on the second anniversary of his mother’s death in the village of Crathie on Sept. 8.

His eldest sonPrince Williamand his wife,Kate Middleton, were also seen at the church in Kate’s first appearance since she announced thecompletion of her chemotherapy.

Queen Elizabeth II pictured in the Drawing Room bat Balmoral Castle on Sept. 6, 2022.Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty

In the documentaryCharles III: The Coronation Year, released in December 2023,Princess Annerevealed how her mother, Queen Elizabeth, shared her concerns about the difficulties involved in her passing away at Balmoral.

“I think there was a moment when she felt it would be more difficult if she died at Balmoral,” Anne, 74, said. She then explained that the royal family steered the late queen away from worrying about practical duties and towards enjoying Balmoral instead.

“I think we did try to persuade her that that shouldn’t be part of the decision-making process,” Anne said in the documentary, perThe Daily Telegraph. “So I hope she felt that was right in the end, because we did.”

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Prince Harrysharedhis memories of visiting Balmoral with the queenin his bookSpare, released in January 2023.

“To me, Balmoral was always simply paradise,” he wrote.“My family lived to be outdoors, especially Granny, who got cross if she didn’t breathe at least an hour of fresh air each day.”

source: people.com