Storm Floris Forces Balmoral Castle to Shut Its Gates as Royal Summer Retreat Faces Safety Concerns

A sudden turn in the Scottish weather has prompted King Charles III’s cherished estate, Balmoral Castle, to temporarily close its doors to the public.

On August 4, the official Instagram account for Balmoral Castle announced that the estate would not be open due to the dangerous conditions brought by Storm Floris. “Balmoral will be closed to the public today, Monday 4th August, due to Storm Floris. Please do not travel to the Estate. We will be issuing refunds for tickets to visit today,” read the post. It ended with a clear reminder to “stay safe everyone.”

The U.K.’s national weather service, the Met Office, issued both amber and yellow weather warnings for high winds in Aberdeenshire, where Balmoral is located. According to their forecast, Storm Floris is expected to bring "unusually strong west or northwesterly winds," with gusts ranging from 50 to 70 mph across much of the region. Exposed areas, such as bridges and coastal cliffs, could experience extreme gusts of up to 90 mph.

Balmoral Castle has long been a beloved part of royal tradition, serving as a summer haven for the British monarchy since Queen Victoria's time. King Charles, 76, has continued the custom of spending time in Scotland during the late summer months, a tradition maintained by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The closure of the estate comes just days before Balmoral’s public access period ends for the season. Visitors will have until August 10 to explore the castle's historic grounds, gardens, and exhibitions. After that, the estate will once again become a private royal retreat — suggesting that the royal family’s annual summer gathering may be imminent.

The public visiting season began on April 1, offering a rare glimpse into the private world of the royal family through ticketed tours. This early closure cuts short that opportunity by at least one day, much to the disappointment of tourists and royal watchers.

King Charles is already in Scotland and has been seen engaging in local events. On July 28, he attended a reception for Caithness communities in Thurso, located near one of his other Scottish properties — the Castle of Mey.

The Castle of Mey, situated on the northern coast of Scotland, was inherited by King Charles from his grandmother, the Queen Mother, in 2002. Though it’s a more modest estate compared to Balmoral, it holds significant sentimental value for the King. The property was closed to visitors from July 24 to August 8, indicating that the King may be residing there during this period.

Further hinting at his presence in the area, Charles was seen at the 2025 Mey Highland Games in John O’Groats on August 2 — just two days before Balmoral’s closure. The timing suggests the monarch is making his rounds across royal estates ahead of the family's likely arrival at Balmoral for their traditional late-summer retreat.

While Balmoral is only temporarily closed, its gates being shut due to weather has disrupted many travel plans and created a rare gap in the estate’s otherwise consistent seasonal schedule. With safety now the top priority, the royal household is urging the public to heed weather warnings and avoid traveling to the area until the storm passes.