Koningin Victoria • 7 september 1855

• Koningin Victoria (1819-1901): More leaves from the journal of a life in the Highlands, from 1862 to 1882.

September 7, 1855. [Arrival at the New Castle at Balmoral.]
At a quarter past seven o'clock we arrived at dear Balmoral. Strange, very strange, it seemed to me to drive past, indeed through the old house, the connecting part between it and the offices being broken through. The new house looks beautiful. The tower and the rooms in the connecting part are, however, only half finished, and the offices are still unbuilt, therefore the gentlemen (except the Minister) live in the old house, and so do most of the servants; there is a long wooden passage which connects the new house with the offices. An old shoe was thrown after us into the house, for good luck, when we entered the hall. The house is charming ; the rooms delightful; the furniture, papers, every thing perfection.

September 8, 1855. [Impressions of the New Castle.]
The view from the windows of our rooms, and from the library, drawing-room, etc., below them, of the valley of the Dee, with the mountains in the background, which one never could see from the old house, is quite beautiful. We walked about, and alongside the river, and looked at all that has been done, and considered all that has to be done, and afterward we went over to the poor dear old house, and to our rooms, which it was quite melancholy to see so deserted, and settled about things being brought over.