They then stopped at Taymouth Castle. They returned to Scotland in 1844, having no property of their own there. In 1848 Prince Albert took over part of the lease of Balmoral, including the furniture and staff, without having previously seen the property.
The first visit of the royal couple to Balmoral took place on September 8, 1848. The Queen said the house was "small but nice."
In her diary, she wrote: "Everything seemed to breathe freedom and peace and made one forget the world and its sad turbulences." The surrounding hilly landscape reminded them of Thuringia, Albert's homeland in Germany.
It was decided to expand the castle and commission a new project to John and William Smith. The project involved the construction of various auxiliary buildings and the development of gardens.
