King Charles Book Balmoral Foreword Recounts Queen Elizabeth's Final Days

King Charles has written the king charles book balmoral foreword for Mary Miers' new book, Balmoral, and says Queen Elizabeth chose to spend her final days at the royal residence. In the foreword, he says the place has held a uniquely special place in his family’s hearts since childhood.

Balmoral by Mary Miers

The king said Queen Elizabeth “treasured her time at Balmoral” and wrote, “It was here, in these most beloved of surroundings, that she chose to spend her final days,” in the foreword to the book. Balmoral is set for release on 11th June and features photography by Christopher Simon Sykes.

Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral

Charles also wrote, “Since my earliest childhood, it has held, and continues to hold, a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself.” Balmoral Castle was widely seen as Queen Elizabeth's favourite residence, and the family spent summer holidays there with her.

Princess Anne added a separate account in the documentary Charles III The Coronation Year, saying, “I think there was a moment when she felt that it would be more difficult if she died at Balmoral.” She also said, “We did try to persuade her that [location] shouldn't be part of the decision-making process.”

Princess Anne's account

Anne said she was with Queen Elizabeth for the last 24 hours of her life. That detail places the book's foreword in the context of the monarch's final days at Balmoral in September 2022, turning the release into more than a picture book: it is also a public statement from Charles about where his mother chose to be at the end.