Princess Diana’s former butler has broken his silence on a long-held royal family tradition called the ‘Balmoral Test’ – and it is not for the faint of heart.
Paul Burrell revealed in his recently released memoir The Royal Insider that newcomers hoping to join the royal family undergo an assessment to ascertain whether they are capable of keeping up and fitting in with the Monarchy’s expectations.
Taking place at the royal family’s residence in Scotland, Balmoral Castle, potential partners are unknowingly vetted by senior royals and judged on their ability to adhere to royal etiquette, embrace the outdoors and mesh well with other members of the family.
“Outsiders, most importantly potential brides, were brought there like specimens to be inspected by the family to see if they came up to scratch and if they were suitable,” Burrell said of the rite of passage.
The former royal staffer said the ‘Balmoral Test’ is a tradition that has spanned generations, and it has “been this way since Queen Victoria’s day”.
However, Burrell isn’t the first to open up about the royal audition.
In the past, royal expert Amanda Matta has noted that while most families have some sort of process to weigh up newcomers against their family ideals, the test takes ‘meeting the parents’ to a whole other level.
“The main difference between the ‘Balmoral Test’ and a barbecue at my family home would be the established, highly conservative standards of the extended family.”
According to Matta, even in private moments hierarchy within the family is always at play.
And it’s not just good manners and knowledge of protocol that one needs to demonstrate in order to succeed under the royal spotlight.
Fresh faces are expected to have the grit and determination that country life requires, taking part in shooting and hunting activities, as well as long walks in typically harsh weather.
Diana famously surpassed all expectations during the ‘Balmoral Test’ thanks to her aristocratic upbringing and, according to Matta, so did Kate Middleton.
“Her reputation for being down-to-earth and outdoorsy translated well at Balmoral, where comfort in the natural landscape is highly valued,” she revealed.
The royal commentator added that the test went so well that her parents were invited to a shooting weekend the following year.
“Unlike Diana, Kate’s ‘Balmoral Test’ and subsequent visits might reveal her more durable alignment with the family’s dynamics, both in private and public,” Matta revealed.