Royal family's 175-year-old right to hunt comes to an end
The royal family can no longer hunt at the five-century old Abergeldie Estate that is next door to Balmoral Castle.
Abergeldie's new owner, Alastair Storey, has terminated the royal family's sporting rights lease, established by Prince Albert in 1852, which means they can no longer go hunting, deer stalking or fishing at the estate, ending the 175-year-old tradition.
Storey reportedly has plans to "transform" buildings on the estate into private accommodation and hunting lodges, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Planning documents filed with Aberdeenshire council confirmed this: "For the last 175 years the Royal family have leased the sporting rights at Abergeldie but this has now ceased, and will be actively run by the new Laird.
"To facilitate the transformation and to effectively run the estate, new facilities will be required."
The documents also stated that the buildings around the farmhouse "facilitate accommodation for the running of the estate and will include a social space for paying visitors to support the sporting activities on the estate".
This is a huge change from the original agreements Prince Albert drew up with the Gordon family, who previously owned the estate.
This also comes after the late Queen agreed to pay more for the shooting and hunting rights on the sporting estate 25 years ago, after she was asked to increase the nominal rent that was being paid by the royal family for access.
The 11,532-acre estate is nestled between the late Queen Elizabeth's former estate and the King's residence, Birkhall.
It was sold in 2021 after the death of the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, John Gordon - who was also a friend of the late monarch - to Storey, who bought the estate for £23 million.
Although Storey purchased 34 properties dotted around the vast estate, he has not bought out Abergeldie Castle, which still belongs to the Gordon family.
Storey, 70, is a Scottish businessman and chief executive of WSH, and was labelled the "most influential man in the UK hospitality industry" in 2012.
He was made an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth in 2017.
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