Is Balmoral’s drone ban for Trump visit?

THE Queen has banned drones from flying near Balmoral.

The no-fly zone comes amid speculation that President Donald Trump is to visit the monarch’s private estate next month.

He has apparently spoken of his desire to play golf at the Queen’s nine-hole course at the Aberdeenshire castle.

But the ban is year-round and the main castle will remain open to the public at the time of Mr Trump’s visit, though the President could stay in other lodges on the estate.

The Queen is to meet Mr Trump, whose mother was born in Stornoway on Lewis, but the location has been kept secret. However, the venue is believed to be away from London to avoid mass protests.

Balmoral is also where the Royal Family spend every summer and jealously guard their privacy.

It is where they are often seen at their most relaxed and the drones ban is believed to be more related to security issues and keeping the paparazzi at bay.

The ban restricts the flying of aerial devices within 1km of the castle.

The 50,000-acre estate attracts around 70,000 visitors between April and July, before it closes for the arrival of the Queen and other members of ‘the Firm’.

Drones were banned from flying over Windsor throughout the Royal Wedding weekend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle due to privacy and security fears.

The Queen was notified that an order was being sought to prevent drones flying over Windsor Castle on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding day and she agreed to the prohibition.

Now she has approved the same restriction at Balmoral on a year-round basis.

The estate website states: ‘Please note the flying of drones or any other aerial device within 1km of the Castle at the Balmoral estate is not allowed at any time of the year.’.

A spokesman for the Queen declined to comment but it is understood that as well as security issues the ban is also designed to minimise disturbance to the estate’s wildlife such as golden eagles.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said Balmoral was not required to make an order as the land was privately owned.

It is not clear how long the ban on drones has been in place.