Every summer, royal spouses and prime ministers are said to face the so-called ‘Balmoral Test’ at the Royal Family’s Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire. Andy Burnham allegedly spent the weekend in the area — but does this mysterious test really exist, and how do you ‘pass’?
Words: Amy Mica Marsden. Images: Getty.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was spotted up in Scotland with the Royal Family at the weekend, alongside his wife Marie-France van Heel, for what is believed to be his first visit to Royal Deeside since becoming PM.
He was seen joining the King and Queen at a church service at Crathie Kirk, a small church in the area near Balmoral Castle, visited regularly by members of the royal family over the years.
But was this his Balmoral Test? And what exactly is the event?
What is the Balmoral Test?
Viewers of The Crown may already be familiar with the so-called ‘Balmoral test’ from season 4, when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (played by Gillian Anderson) visits the Scottish castle where the royals typically spend their summers, in 1981.
Steeped in tradition and protocol, these visits are seen as a sort of unofficial litmus test for PMs and would-be royal spouses, putting them through their paces to make sure they ‘fit in’.
Speaking about Harriet Sperling’s own ‘Balmoral Test’ on his podcast Paul Burrell’s Royal Tea, former royal butler and confidant of Princess Diana said, ‘I do feel sorry for her, in a way, because she will be like a specimen in a jar – examined by the family and watched to see how she copes.’
However, on her own podcast, Lady Colin Campbell disagrees that the ‘Balmoral Test’ exists in a literal sense, saying, ‘There is no such thing as the ‘Balmoral Test’; there never was. It is a notion that has been fabricated by Peter Morgan [showrunner of The Crown] – but he hasn’t plucked it out of absolutely nowhere.
‘There has always been the supposition, let’s put it that way, that people who are asked to Balmoral – girlfriends, boyfriends, great friends – if they don’t fit in very well at Balmoral, the received wisdom is that they’re never gonna make it to the inner circle.
‘To be a fully paid-up member of the royal family, who is in the absolute bosom of everything, they have to like Balmoral, they have to function well at Balmoral.’
What does the Balmoral Test consist of?
A trip to Balmoral typically includes a mix of outdoor activities, which many have described as ‘not optional’, regardless of the weather. Visitors are expected to join in on long walks and outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting, come rain or shine, as well as barbecues and picnics, all while following royal protocol.
Paul Burrell recounts his memory of Princess Diana Spencer’s own ‘Balmoral Test’ in 1980, and one alleged hunting trip, on his podcast: ‘She was naive and innocent, and she was taken out on the hillside to hunt a deer.
‘She was appalled by it because she stalked this poor deer along the heather on a rainy day, crawling along, waiting to kill this majestic animal… She hated it, and she never did it again. That was the initiation ceremony into the royal family.’
However, it is widely said that, despite this, young Princess Diana did well on her first outing to Balmoral. Speaking on the True Royalty Podcast, historian Professor Kate Williams said of the visit: ‘There is this Balmoral Test that Diana herself found particularly difficult – and she passed; they thought she was marvellous.’
If PM Andy Burnham stayed at Balmoral over the weekend, as The Telegraph reports he was invited to do, he likely took on some similar activities – though the weather in Aberdeenshire was much better than when Princess Diana stayed.
The Press Association reports Burnham met with the King and Queen at Balmoral on Saturday, though no other information about the trip has been confirmed.
How do you pass the test?
Allegedly, a stay at Balmoral generally demonstrates how well a person fits in, follows rules, and comes across socially. There is no true pass or fail, just as there is no formal test (rather, just an unspoken evaluation) – however, some visitors fare better than others.
Royal Expert Omid Scobie, speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, said of the test: ‘If you’ve scored an invite, prepare to brush up on your royal protocol, have a wealth of talking points at the ready, an outfit for EVERY occasion (from hunting to black tie).
‘And, most importantly, be on your best behavior at all times.’
He continued, ‘Social etiquette is a must! If you don’t like the food, eat it anyway. If you don’t like trampling through the Highlands in the wind and rain, tough! Unlike a visit to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, this is the queen’s private residence and a front-row seat within her inner sanctum.’
But is the Balmoral Test really as intimidating as it sounds? Some guests reportedly go out of their way to ensure there is nothing for which they can be criticized or judged negatively, going as far as to buy entirely new wardrobes for the occasion – however, the trip is often described as quite informal at times.
Writing in 2020, before Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Omid Scobie said, ‘Despite all the talk of it being a ‘test’, [Queen Elizabeth II] is also at her most laid-back during summers at Balmoral. Her Majesty will always go out of her way to make every guest feel welcome and at home. You will be included in the family barbecues, part of every meal and, if you’re lucky enough, get to play with the queen’s dogs.’ We can only assume that King Charles will continue the tradition.
For now, we’ll await news of how the Prime Minister fared during his own alleged test with the current King and Queen. Would you enjoy a weekend at Balmoral — or would you fail the unofficial test?
