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All the royal fans currently watching Netflix’s The Crown season four have been completely entwined with the dramatic entrance of the Princess Diana character.
And when the future Princess of Wales was introduced to the plethora of fans, there was a shared question that hung over all of our heads: What is the Balmoral Test?
Royal Expert and Royal Managing Editor of BAZAAR.com Omid Scobie spoke about the initiation process.
“They call it the Queen’s Balmoral Trial, but I would call it more of a royal initiation. Of those who had the privilege of being invited to Balmoral Castle during the summer, not all have passed away, ”he said.
“Diana went through it with fame, thanks to her aristocratic background and her upbringing, but the likes of Cherie Blair [the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair] and our current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, no, “he continued.
“If you got an invite, be prepared to go over your royal protocol, have a host of talking points ready, an outfit for EVERY occasion (from the hunt to the black tie), and most importantly, be on your best behavior at all times. Social etiquette is a must! “
“If you don’t like food, eat it anyway. If you don’t like trampling the Highlands in the wind and rain, don’t hesitate! Unlike a visit to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, this is the queen’s private residence and a front row seat within her inner sanctuary. You are entering her space and everything she does goes, ”he said.
“I’ve heard guests are so eager to impress during their stay at Balmoral, and so worried about being judged for being wrong, that they will go as far as packing new pajamas, underwear, and toiletries so that when the valet unpacks their belongings in her room, absolutely nothing can be judged and no negative word can reach the queen, ”he continued.
“But despite all the talk about it being a ‘test’, the Queen is also more relaxed during the summers at Balmoral. His Majesty will always do his best to make all guests feel welcome and at home, ”he said.
“You will be included in the family barbecues, part of each meal and, if you are lucky enough, you will be able to play with the queen’s dogs,” he added.
Tobias Menzies, who plays Prince Philip on the show, talked about the Balmoral Test episode that shows Diana and Margaret Thatcher being tested.
“Two very different women [Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher] being tested through this prism of the strange etiquette and the somewhat illegible rules of this family, ”he said.
“Diana succeeds and therefore passes with great success, [which] it’s a big part of why the family defends that relationship in the future. While Thatcher is out of reach and does not understand the hidden and unspoken rules, and sets the rest of the series about her kind of animosity for the privilege of this class, “he added.
