Tears as Balmoral opens its gates once more to visitors
IT had lain in solemn silence since the death of the Queen.
But the gates of Balmoral reopened to the public yesterday for the first time in more than three weeks.
Around 30 people brought flowers and cards to lay alongside the large collection outside the entrance.
Although the castle itself was closed, people were able to wander through the grounds and gardens.
One touching tribute to Her Majesty could be found just behind the castle on the bank of the River Dee, where ten types of flowers had been placed in a line at the waterside.
By lunchtime, the car park and overflow were almost completely full, with more than 400 people having arrived.
Visitors Catherine Hands, 40, and Stewart Burns, 45, from Newcastle, had been on a weekend break in Aberdeen.
Mr Burns said: ‘It really has been special, especially knowing that we’ve been some of the first people since it reopened.’ Miss Hands said: ‘I never went down to London for the funeral, so it is important that we got to come here and pay our respects.’
Mandy Berrisford, 55, had travelled from Cheshire. She said: ‘It’s been a really emotional day visiting here. I’m sure I have cried at least twice. She was such a wonderful woman and seeing all the flowers still here is very special.’
Friends Donna Yarborough, 61, and Anna Fineberg, 54, from Tennessee, made the trip while on their first visit to Europe from the United States.
Mrs Yarborough said: ‘We’ve been planning to come to Scotland for over one year and we were excited to come here, in particular.
‘It was when you first walk up to the gates and you see all the flowers – that was a moment that really hit me.’ Mrs Fineberg said: ‘I know everyone says she loved this place and I can see why.’
Neil Fletcher, 46, from Leicester, had come with his dogs Red and Archie. He said: ‘I was one of the first people to walk in through the gates, which was really surreal seeing it so empty.’
Holidaymaker Glenn Corbett, 50, was visiting with partner Adele Burgess, 46, from Yorkshire. He said: ‘We really wanted to pay our respects.’