After Queen Elizabeth’s death, I visited Balmoral. I can see why she loved this ‘royal getaway’

Following the terrible news of the Queen’s passing on Friday, I joined the crowds of mourners at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Friday found Mikhaila Friel at the gates of Balmoral Castle.

Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Thursday at Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II died away peacefully, according to a Buckingham Palace official. She was 96 years old and had been queen for 70 years.

Princess Elizabeth on June 24, 2015.

Balmoral is the Queen’s private house in Royal Deeside, where she has spent every summer since she was a kid.

A panoramic image of Balmoral Castle, one of the Royal family’s palaces and where Queen Elizabeth II has historically spent the summer months.

Andrew Milligan/PA Images accessed through Getty Images

Royal Deeside, in contrast to Buckingham Palace, is noted for its natural beauty, including the River Dee and the Cairngorm mountains.

The natural landscape surrounding Royal Deeside.

Mikhaila Friel/Insider

On Friday, the roads leading to Balmoral were closed, so I traveled to the nearest village, Ballater, where free bus service was available every 15 minutes for anyone who wished to leave floral tributes.

Friday’s transportation from Ballater to Balmoral Castle.

Mikhaila Friel/Insider

There was a list of prohibited items to bring to Balmoral, and an official told me that only flowers would be permitted at the entrance gates.

A notice indicating prohibited items on the Balmoral Castle-bound bus.

Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The castle was around a 15-minute drive away. There were police officers and members of the press surrounding the door.

Officers of the police, journalists, and members of the general public walk to Balmoral Castle.

Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The bus was parked approximately two minutes away from the castle. I followed mourners as they crossed a bridge overlooking the River Dee before arriving at the gates.

The Dee River.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

I came just before 11 a.m. Even though the gates were closed and guarded by a police officer, the public was welcome to pay respects at the entry.

Queen Elizabeth II was honored with floral tributes at Balmoral Castle.

Mikhaila Friel/Insider

There were less people than I had anticipated, but I figured this was because to Balmoral’s isolated location. It takes around two hours and thirty minutes to get to the Queen’s estate from Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh.

At the gates of Balmoral Castle, people gathered to pay homage to the Queen.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

According to Alicia Healey, a former royal assistant, this is part of the reason why the Queen adored it. Healey told to The Spectator that Balmoral provided a “escape from the royal bubble.”

1972 photograph of Queen Elizabeth II at her writing desk in her study at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Image Source: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Spectator is the origin.

Some individuals wore black mourning attire, while others shed tears as they viewed the tributes.

A person dressed in black mourning attire posed for a photograph next to the memorials.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

Despite being told that gifts such as teddy bears and balloons were prohibited, people nonetheless brought them.

There were also stuffed animals and balloons left at the gates.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

I chatted with a number of individuals who traveled from various regions of the country to offer their respects. “She has given everything to our country,” said one person, adding that King Charles will certainly rule the nation in a manner similar to that of his late mother.

At Balmoral, members of the public view tributes to the Queen.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

Another individual stated that they traveled from Dundee to Balmoral in order to “be near to the royal family” during this difficult period.

On Friday, the British people assembled in front of Balmroal Castle.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

After viewing the memorials, I returned to Ballater. The Victorian village has approximately 1,140 residents and is renowned for its quaint cafes, restaurants, and outdoor activities such as climbing.

Ballater, a settlement in Royal Deeside.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

Source: City Population and Ballater Visit

In 2016, she met with locals and people who participated in relief operations following flooding in the region.

—The Royal Family’s Twitter account

September 27, 2016

Clearly, the citizens of Ballater adored Her Majesty. People had dropped flowers at several sites near the local church on Friday morning.

The Queen was presented with flowers in Ballater, Scotland.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

Local stores honored Her Majesty by displaying photographs of her in their storefronts.

Photos of the Queen are displayed in the window of a Ballater hardware store.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

The neighborhood bookstore, A.B. Yule, has a window display of books with a Queen Elizabeth theme.

The neighborhood bookstore created a window display with a Queen Elizabeth theme.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

The shopkeeper told me that people adore Ballater because “there’s true air here” and there are numerous castles.

The bookstore closest to Ballater.

Mikhaila Frie/Insider

The proprietor of the store stated that business had been brisk since the news broke, and that all of the newspapers had sold out. Fortunately, I discovered a couple copies at a nearby grocery store.

Newspapers reporting the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

Later in the afternoon, the number of individuals waiting to board the bus to Balmoral increased.

The line for the Balmoral bus.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

The longer I stayed in Ballater, the more I realized why the Queen adored this town. The exquisite architecture and breathtaking scenery made it feel like an universe unto itself.

Church located in Ballater.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

I can only image how living in Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle would have been in sharp contrast to the tranquil towns and gorgeous landscape.

Friday morning was peaceful in Ballater.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside

I’m delighted I had the opportunity to pay my respects to the Queen at Balmoral and to discover why she so enjoyed the surrounding area. It was indeed a royal escape.

Friday, upon hearing of Queen Elizabeth’s death, Mikhaila Friel visited the royal family’s Balmoral estate.

Inside Mikhaila Friel/Inside