New tourist attraction opens at royal home where late Queen spent her final hours
A NEW tourist attraction has opened up at the royal home where Queen Elizabeth spent her final hours.
King Charles' Scottish themed maze at Balmoral - only the second Royal maze in 300 years - has finally opened, with trees sprouting several feet skywards.
It even has a mini castle tower - in the same granite stone as the nearby castle - in its centre, so people can really be king or queen of a bite sized Balmoral.
In the shape of a thistle, the maze has been constructed in front of the castle near the iconic Garden Cottage in the 50,000 acre grounds. It has opened without Royal fanfare.
The development's progress, which keen-gardener Charles has overseen, has opened just in time for the expected visit in a couple of weeks of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Charlotte, Louis and George.
The gates that lead to the maze have also been altered to reflect the initials of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
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The King has funded the maze at his private Scottish retreat, where Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022.
However, it is not believed to be a personal tribute to his late mother - rather an added attraction at Balmoral, which relies on visitors to help pay around half of its running costs.
The maze is shown on maps handed out to visitors and the trees and shrubs were previously gathered near the site for planting last year.
It is the second maze Charles has been involved in.
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At Dumfries House in Ayrshire he created the first Royal maze in three centuries.
The then Prince's Foundation, now King's Foundation - which is headquarted at the stately home which Charles saved for the nation - took on the project eight years ago.
Inspired by memories of his childhood, Charles wanted to create the green puzzle north of the border.
He instructed gardeners to construct the 6ft high maze and personally oversaw the project.
The hedge puzzle even has a Japanese-style pagoda for reflection at its centre as well as obelisks and statues.
Charles was inspired by his times as a child in a maze at Sandringham, which was removed many decades ago.
He identified a perfect site, 500 yards from the main house. The prince then asked Fife-based garden designer Michael Innes to develop a plan.
The design involved a 164 feet diameter yew maze, with the tall plants to create immediate impact. There is over one 1093 yards of hedging in total.
Balmoral’s gardens were started in the 19th Century under the supervision of Prince Albert and have been expanded and improved by successive members of the Royal Family - and now by Charles.
A notice previously displayed at Balmoral stated: "His Majesty the King has plans to develop the gardens. Work has started on the Thistle Maze.
Inside Queen’s final days at Balmoral
THE Queen spent her final days at Balmoral having fun with family, reading the Racing Post and watching TV with staff.
Her Majesty passed away in September 2022 in the royal retreat where she spent many happy summers with her beloved Philip.
She spent her final hours in the bosom of her family, in the place she was the most at home.
The Queen spent three months every summer at the Scottish castle and would “kick off her shoes” and relax.
This 50,000-acre estate beside the River Dee in the Scottish Highlands is where she could be a mum, and a wife - a world away from life as the most famous woman on the planet.
She arrived at Balmoral for the last time on July 23, 2022 - her second summer without Prince Philip.
She flew by private helicopter and was expected to stay until October to take some time away from royal duties.
"A series of herbaceous borders will also encourage pollinators and add seasonal interest for visitors."
The castle gardens were first opened to the public in 1931 for one day a year under the Scotland 's Gardens Scheme.
Charles has extended the public season of Balmoral as well as opening up some of the interior of the castle for the first time.
Royal author Robert Hardman said that he had predicted King Charles would open up Balmoral, where his mother died on September 8, 2022.
Mr Hardman, in his seminal book 'Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story', said: "Balmoral is private property. However, it needs public footfall not just to help pay the bills but to bring benefits to the wider community and to remain in step with other stately homes.
"Critics and supporters of the monarchy alike have long complained that the castle is only open for a few months in spring and early summer.
"Even then, the public are only given access to the ballroom and stables.
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"Why not offer them a good gawp at the main interior rooms all year round as long as the family are not in residence?
"After all, the King and Queen are much happier living at Birkhall, the Queen Mother’s old home, when they are in these parts."
