Page "Balmoral Castle" Paragraph 12

Even before the completion of the new house, the pattern of the royal couple's life in the Highlands was soon established.

Albert spent many days shooting deer and game, while Victoria took long walks of up to four hours daily.

In 1849 the diarist Charles Greville described their life at Balmoral as like that of gentry rather than royalty.

Victoria began a policy of commissioning artists to record Balmoral, its surroundings and its staff.

Over the years, numerous painters were employed at Balmoral, including Edwin and Charles Landseer, Carl Haag, William Wyld, William Henry Fisk, and many others.

The couple took great interest in their staff, and set up a lending library.

During the 1850s, new plantations were established around the house, and exotic conifers were planted in the grounds.

Prince Albert had an active role in these improvements, overseeing the design of parterres, the diversion the main road north of the river via a new bridge, and plans for farm buildings.

These included a model dairy which he developed during 1861, the year of his death.

It was completed by Victoria, who subsequently built several monuments to her husband on the estate.

These included an obelisk, and a large statue of Albert by William Theed, inaugurated in 1867.