As keen observers of the British royal family will know, the late Queen Elizabeth II was extremely fond of spending time at her Scottish residence, Balmoral Castle. And why wouldn’t she have been? As vacation homes go, it’s a pretty dreamy place. But Britain’s royals actually have their hands on a bunch of remarkable vacation homes — and they’re not alone. Other royal families across Europe also vacation in some pretty incredible places. Let’s take a look at some of the most extraordinary boltholes of the blue-blooded elite.
Balmoral Castle — British royal family
It’s long been rumored that Elizabeth loved Balmoral Castle more than any of her other many properties. That idea has even been supported by one of the monarch’s own grandchildren.
Speaking in 2016 in a documentary about the monarch, Princess Eugenie elaborated on what the estate meant to her grandmother.Eugenie said, “It’s the most beautiful place on Earth. I think Granny is most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands.”