The Balmoral estate is currently undergoing exterior maintenance, with scaffolding visible on the west side of the castle, while simultaneously hosting a centenary exhibition for Queen Elizabeth II in the ballroom.
While the estate manages its modern-day upkeep, Tim Harford recently revisited a darker chapter in the history of Balmoral on Revisionist History. He recounted the time the poet William McGonagall attempted a royal recital, noting that a constable warned the poet: "Unless you want to be arrested, go home, and don't think of returning to Balmoral." The show highlights how the estate has long served as a site of both royal prestige and public absurdity.
The juxtaposition is striking: where McGonagall was once chased away by law enforcement, the estate now welcomes visitors for horse riding events and photographic retrospectives. As the current maintenance work continues to preserve the structure, the focus remains on shifting the narrative from the eccentricities of the past to the carefully curated legacy on display within the castle walls.
