“I had my first glimpse of the royal halls of Balmoral Castle”

Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish holiday home of the British royal family since the 19th century.

But it is probably etched in the minds of the entire country as the place where we last saw Queen Elizabeth II.

Who can forget that last public photo of the late queen, with her warm smile and cozy cardigan in front of the crackling fire in the drawing room of her castle?

It’s outside of this room that I realize this is a piece of history.

BBC Scotland was invited to a preview of the brand new Balmoral Castle tour.

From Monday, the public can experience areas of Category A listed buildings that no one outside of family and guests has seen before.

Tickets weren’t cheap, £100 (£150 with afternoon tea) and sold out within 24 hours of going on sale in April.

The tour begins at the castle’s grand crenellated porte cochere – a grand entrance wide enough to allow carriages to pass through.

After a brief introduction, we are led into the entrance hall.

Its walls are lined with 22 stuffed deer heads and a bronze statue of Malcolm of Canmore, the 11th-century king who is said to have killed Macbeth.

There is also a bust of Queen Victoria, a testament to the monarch’s influence which is felt throughout the castle.

But what immediately strikes me is that it is a house.

It’s grand, but smaller than you think, and the fishing rods and walking sticks stacked against the walls immediately conjure up images of King Charles walking in the fields and those engagement photos of Lady Diana next to the River Dee.

Our guide leads us to the red corridor. We pass a life-size statue of Prince Albert which we are told can spin.

Apparently, a heartbroken Victoria asked the staff to return the sculpture so she could see her beloved husband when she got upstairs.

There is also a large dinner gong, which we are told has links dating back to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The flocked wallpaper, commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1887, features crowns, thistles and the initials VRI – Victoria Regina Imperatrix (Victoria, Queen and Empress).

The main dining room is next. This is where the king hosts evening dinners and entertains his family and guests.

Almost all British prime ministers, US President Eisenhower and Florence Nightingale have dined here.

At each end are large portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In keeping with the Scottish theme, the curtains are in Royal Stewart tartan.

We then pass through the Pages’ Hall, which leads us to the Family Dining Room, used for breakfast and afternoon tea for the Royal Family.

Just before reaching the drawing room, the guide explains that it was here that the last public photo of the late Queen was taken, as she confirmed Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister.

As I entered and saw the fireplace and the green sofa, the importance of this room struck me.

I was very aware that I was in a space where members of the royal family have lived, where many dignitaries have visited, and which will remain etched in history.

I remember thinking, ‘This is the piece.’

The overriding feeling was that this was a family home. I could see the late Queen by the fireplace, the other members of the royal family sitting together.

The floral printed furniture gives it a warm atmosphere.

Antiques, like the mantel clock and stag’s head candelabras, sit alongside more modern touches – what were once two cabinets have been transformed into speakers.

Atop a grand piano is a selection of framed photos, including those of King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Queen Mother.

Books on stand include novels by PD James.

The last room of the visit is the library.

This, we are told, was used by the king as his own study and also hosted meetings with many dignitaries.

There are a wide variety of books, including on Scottish history, the Highland clans and the speeches of Prince Albert.

After the tour, we also get to see the grand ballroom.

Perhaps the most famous hall in Balmoral, it is famous for its Ghillie Ball, hosted each year by the Royal Family to thank the staff for their service.

A selection of watercolours of Royal Deeside painted by King Charles go on display

There is also a selection of outfits worn by the King and Queen, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother.

Outside, the gardens surrounding the castle have been renovated with hundreds of saplings personally planted by King Charles.

The monarch has also commissioned a thistle maze, which is in its infancy but is open to the public.

Balmoral Castle is steeped in Scottish tradition, with many nods to its rich royal history.

The tour gives the public a glimpse into the more private side of the Royal Family while on holiday here in Aberdeenshire.

And it’s easy to imagine why it was the place where Queen Elizabeth II felt most at home.

Tours run from Monday, July 1st to Sunday, August 4th.