Why has the Royal Family been banned from this 175-year-old hunting tradition?

For almost two centuries, the Royal Family had spent their pastime shooting and fishing at this Scottish estate near Balmoral Castle.

But now, that long-standing tradition has come to an abrupt end.


It was back in 1852 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle, which gave them access to the Abergeldie estate.


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Owned by The Royal Family, the Balmoral Castle gave them access to the nearby Abergeldie estate. Image source: Shutterstock.


The Royal Family had been using the 4,654-hectare Abergeldie estate to fish, deer stalk, and hunt during their free time.

However, due to a recent change in ownership, The Royal Family is no longer welcome on the Abergeldie estate near Balmoral Castle.


Before the change in ownership, the Gordon family, one of the most powerful Scottish clans, owned the estate for more than 500 years—until the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon, where they put up the estate for sale in 2020.

It was also reported that an increase in the leasing fee was imposed by the Gordon family on their estate in the late ‘90s, but the late Queen Elizabeth II was more than willing to pay the difference.

The opulent estate boasts 34 homes, cottages, lodges, and farmhouses, excluding the Abergeldie Castle, which is about 3 kilometres away from Balmoral Castle.


It was reported that a 70-year-old man named Alastair Storey purchased the estate for a whopping $44.7 million and has ended the royal lease, with plans to use the estate for commercial shooting.

'For the last 175 years, the Royal Family have leased the sporting rights at Abergeldie, but this has now ceased and will be actively run by the new Laird,' the documents filed with Aberdeenshire Council read.

'To facilitate the transformation and to effectively run the estate, new facilities will be required.'

Mr Storey also wants to build new accommodations 'for paying visitors to support the sporting activities on the estate'.

Despite the dramatic end to this 175-year tradition, it is believed that there are no hard feelings between both parties.
Key Takeaways
  • The Royal Family has been banned from their 175-year tradition of hunting on the Abergeldie estate near Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
  • The estate's new owner, Alastair Storey, ended the royal lease and plans to revamp the grounds for commercial shooting.
  • The estate, which was owned by the powerful Gordon family for over 500 years, was sold following the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon.
  • The Balmoral Castle was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852 with a leasing agreement that allowed the royal family to use the grounds for pastimes.
What are your thoughts on the sudden end to this pastime of the Royal Family, dear members? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
 
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Some ridiculous answer I see here, it was leased if the Queen wanted to purchase the land then it might have happened many years ago. Would love it if hunting was banned but the new owner has a right to do what he wants with his land he paid over 44 million for. I don't see that we have any say in the matter or indeed can comment on whether King Charles was interested in purchasing the land. As for poor things or diddums sorry as adults grow up it has nothing to do with us.
 
Some ridiculous answer I see here, it was leased if the Queen wanted to purchase the land then it might have happened many years ago. Would love it if hunting was banned but the new owner has a right to do what he wants with his land he paid over 44 million for. I don't see that we have any say in the matter or indeed can comment on whether King Charles was interested in purchasing the land. As for poor things or diddums sorry as adults grow up it has nothing to do with us.
I'm guessing your British !

Sorry but remarks will happen when an article comes up trying to make us feel sorry for people who already have more than they should
 
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For almost two centuries, the Royal Family had spent their pastime shooting and fishing at this Scottish estate near Balmoral Castle.

But now, that long-standing tradition has come to an abrupt end.


It was back in 1852 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle, which gave them access to the Abergeldie estate.


View attachment 29889
Owned by The Royal Family, the Balmoral Castle gave them access to the nearby Abergeldie estate. Image source: Shutterstock.


The Royal Family had been using the 4,654-hectare Abergeldie estate to fish, deer stalk, and hunt during their free time.

However, due to a recent change in ownership, The Royal Family is no longer welcome on the Abergeldie estate near Balmoral Castle.


Before the change in ownership, the Gordon family, one of the most powerful Scottish clans, owned the estate for more than 500 years—until the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon, where they put up the estate for sale in 2020.

It was also reported that an increase in the leasing fee was imposed by the Gordon family on their estate in the late ‘90s, but the late Queen Elizabeth II was more than willing to pay the difference.

The opulent estate boasts 34 homes, cottages, lodges, and farmhouses, excluding the Abergeldie Castle, which is about 3 kilometres away from Balmoral Castle.


It was reported that a 70-year-old man named Alastair Storey purchased the estate for a whopping $44.7 million and has ended the royal lease, with plans to use the estate for commercial shooting.

'For the last 175 years, the Royal Family have leased the sporting rights at Abergeldie, but this has now ceased and will be actively run by the new Laird,' the documents filed with Aberdeenshire Council read.

'To facilitate the transformation and to effectively run the estate, new facilities will be required.'

Mr Storey also wants to build new accommodations 'for paying visitors to support the sporting activities on the estate'.

Despite the dramatic end to this 175-year tradition, it is believed that there are no hard feelings between both parties.
Key Takeaways

  • The Royal Family has been banned from their 175-year tradition of hunting on the Abergeldie estate near Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
  • The estate's new owner, Alastair Storey, ended the royal lease and plans to revamp the grounds for commercial shooting.
  • The estate, which was owned by the powerful Gordon family for over 500 years, was sold following the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon.
  • The Balmoral Castle was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852 with a leasing agreement that allowed the royal family to use the grounds for pastimes.
What are your thoughts on the sudden end to this pastime of the Royal Family, dear members? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
 
Some ridiculous answer I see here, it was leased if the Queen wanted to purchase the land then it might have happened many years ago. Would love it if hunting was banned but the new owner has a right to do what he wants with his land he paid over 44 million for. I don't see that we have any say in the matter or indeed can comment on whether King Charles was interested in purchasing the land. As for poor things or diddums sorry as adults grow up it has nothing to do with us.
All land in the UK is the property of the Crown and its use by a Commoner is by courtesy of the Crown, so what is this nonsense about the King leasing the land from a Commoner? Commoners only own the improvements to the land e.g. the buildings and outside dunnies on the land.
 
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For almost two centuries, the Royal Family had spent their pastime shooting and fishing at this Scottish estate near Balmoral Castle.

But now, that long-standing tradition has come to an abrupt end.


It was back in 1852 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle, which gave them access to the Abergeldie estate.


View attachment 29889
Owned by The Royal Family, the Balmoral Castle gave them access to the nearby Abergeldie estate. Image source: Shutterstock.


The Royal Family had been using the 4,654-hectare Abergeldie estate to fish, deer stalk, and hunt during their free time.

However, due to a recent change in ownership, The Royal Family is no longer welcome on the Abergeldie estate near Balmoral Castle.


Before the change in ownership, the Gordon family, one of the most powerful Scottish clans, owned the estate for more than 500 years—until the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon, where they put up the estate for sale in 2020.

It was also reported that an increase in the leasing fee was imposed by the Gordon family on their estate in the late ‘90s, but the late Queen Elizabeth II was more than willing to pay the difference.

The opulent estate boasts 34 homes, cottages, lodges, and farmhouses, excluding the Abergeldie Castle, which is about 3 kilometres away from Balmoral Castle.


It was reported that a 70-year-old man named Alastair Storey purchased the estate for a whopping $44.7 million and has ended the royal lease, with plans to use the estate for commercial shooting.

'For the last 175 years, the Royal Family have leased the sporting rights at Abergeldie, but this has now ceased and will be actively run by the new Laird,' the documents filed with Aberdeenshire Council read.

'To facilitate the transformation and to effectively run the estate, new facilities will be required.'

Mr Storey also wants to build new accommodations 'for paying visitors to support the sporting activities on the estate'.

Despite the dramatic end to this 175-year tradition, it is believed that there are no hard feelings between both parties.
Key Takeaways

  • The Royal Family has been banned from their 175-year tradition of hunting on the Abergeldie estate near Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
  • The estate's new owner, Alastair Storey, ended the royal lease and plans to revamp the grounds for commercial shooting.
  • The estate, which was owned by the powerful Gordon family for over 500 years, was sold following the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon.
  • The Balmoral Castle was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852 with a leasing agreement that allowed the royal family to use the grounds for pastimes.
What are your thoughts on the sudden end to this pastime of the Royal Family, dear members? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
I am quite sure that the royals will still take part and pay for the use.
 
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All land in the UK is the property of the Crown and its use by a Commoner is bycourtesy of the Crown, so what is this nonsense about the King leasing the land from a Commoner? Commoners only own improvements to the land e.g. the buildings and outside dunnies on the land.
i know in New Zealand you can purchase crown land. My Dad did.
 
i know in New Zealand you can purchase crown land. My Dad did.
One buys Crown freehold which means that one can hold it from the Crown free of lease fees in perpetuity, unless the Crown wants it back via compulsory purchase. At least that applies to we whities and johnny-come-latelies in places like NZ and Australia. It all goes back to the Norman genocidal invaders of England, Scotland and Ireland, not to mention Wales, and 1066 when they stole land stolen from the Ancient Britons by the genocidal Viking, the genocidal Anglo-Saxon and the genocidal Roman invaders during the preceding 1066 years.
 
i know in New Zealand you can purchase crown land. My Dad did.
Absolute nonsense.
All land in the UK is the property of the Crown and its use by a Commoner is by courtesy of the Crown, so what is this nonsense about the King leasing the land from a Commoner? Commoners only own the improvements to the land e.g. the buildings and outside dunnies on the land.
Absolute nonsense. Much of the UK is under private ownership.
 
Absolute nonsense.

Real Estate is derived from the French term Etat Royale. Land is "owned" freehold by Commoners, courtesy of the Crown. You can buy it and you can sell it and you can inherit it and you do so as a Freeholder. Of course private ownrship of a freeholding is indeed very common
 
Some ridiculous answer I see here, it was leased if the Queen wanted to purchase the land then it might have happened many years ago. Would love it if hunting was banned but the new owner has a right to do what he wants with his land he paid over 44 million for. I don't see that we have any say in the matter or indeed can comment on whether King Charles was interested in purchasing the land. As for poor things or diddums sorry as adults grow up it has nothing to do with us.
Well said
 
I'm guessing your British !

Sorry but remarks will happen when an article comes up trying to make us feel sorry for people who already have more than they should
I am British yes but that isn't why I said that, I have lived in the country since I was 10, didn't want to be here originally from a child's perspective leaving all you friends behind to come to a strange country is very daunting, however over the years the one thing I have noticed about Australia is that they will put people on pedestals but if they do something that their fellow Australians don't like the rip them to pieces, I just don't get why people have a right to do that. Just because they are in the limelight for whatever reason there is no excuse or need to do that to another human being. I am as proud to have been born in England as Australians' are proud to be born here.
 
I am British yes but that isn't why I said that, I have lived in the country since I was 10, didn't want to be here originally from a child's perspective leaving all you friends behind to come to a strange country is very daunting, however over the years the one thing I have noticed about Australia is that they will put people on pedestals but if they do something that their fellow Australians don't like the rip them to pieces, I just don't get why people have a right to do that. Just because they are in the limelight for whatever reason there is no excuse or need to do that to another human being. I am as proud to have been born in England as Australians' are proud to be born here.
I don't think Aussies put people on pedalstals. I do know something unique with Aussies is they will help anyone and will jump in to help a mate, a neighbour or someone in trouble
Don't most nationalities stick together ,not just Aussies.

Aussies see the Royal Family differently than the English and ex pat British.

I can usually pick out the English people on here and their hearts are still with their mother land apart from a couple of English people on here.
 
I was hoping to read that the ban was from hunting , a sport that should be outlawed.

Charles should have purchased the property if it ment that much too them.

Boo hoo poor things 😢
My first thought as well! Now with hunting for paying guests there will be more suffering for animals!! All for profit for a guy who already is rich enough to pay 44 millions...
 
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