Balmoral Castle Throws Open its Doors to Public for First Time

Balmoral will be on show as part of a private tour at the castle, the first time since it was completed in 1855. Pic: PA via Sky News
Balmoral will be on show as part of a private tour at the castle, the first time since it was completed in 1855. Pic: PA via Sky News
TT

Balmoral Castle Throws Open its Doors to Public for First Time

Balmoral will be on show as part of a private tour at the castle, the first time since it was completed in 1855. Pic: PA via Sky News
Balmoral will be on show as part of a private tour at the castle, the first time since it was completed in 1855. Pic: PA via Sky News

Balmoral Castle, Scottish retreat of the Royal Family since the 1850s, is being opened up to the public for the first time in its history, Sky News reported.

From Monday, visitors can take a guided tour of a number of the Aberdeenshire castle's entrance hall, red corridor, main and family dining rooms, page's lobby, library and drawing room.

"The public who managed to get a ticket will come away [having seen] the Royal Family's holiday home. That's exactly what it is, it feels very homely," said James Hamilton Goddard, visitor enterprise manager for the Balmoral Estate.

The King is the latest in a long line of monarchs to add their own stamp to Balmoral since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had the castle built in the 1850s.

"It's a magnificent place, I think the King wants people to see [it]," said Mr Hamilton Goddard.



GCC Secretary-General Meets Australia Space Chief

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem bin Mohammed Albudaiwi holds talks with Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) chief executive Jeremy Hallett in Manama, Bahrain. (SPA)
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem bin Mohammed Albudaiwi holds talks with Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) chief executive Jeremy Hallett in Manama, Bahrain. (SPA)
TT

GCC Secretary-General Meets Australia Space Chief

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem bin Mohammed Albudaiwi holds talks with Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) chief executive Jeremy Hallett in Manama, Bahrain. (SPA)
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem bin Mohammed Albudaiwi holds talks with Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) chief executive Jeremy Hallett in Manama, Bahrain. (SPA)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem bin Mohammed Albudaiwi held talks on Tuesday with Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) chief executive Jeremy Hallett in Manama, Bahrain.

Meeting on the sidelines of the sixth annual International Space Forum (ISF), the officials stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between the GCC countries and the SIAA in the fields of technology investment and the formulation of space-related policies in a way that serves their mutual interests.

They tackled Australia's aspiration and desire to bolster cooperation with GCC countries in the field of outer space to help serve their common interests.