BLAIR CASTLE IN TV SPOTLIGHT
The Murray Clan Society
Added on 30 October 2017
Blair Castle and the surrounding estate was in the spotlight in late 2017 as the filming location for episode 7 in the second series of the acclaimed TV drama “Victoria”, which saw Queen Victoria’s love affair with Highland Perthshire brought to life. Starring Jenna Coleman, the series focused on the early years of Victoria’s reign, during which time she visited Highland Perthshire, and particularly Blair Castle, on a number of occasions. The episode aired in October 2017. Blair Castle's Sales and Marketing Manager said: “Overall it was a massive honour for everyone involved with the Castle to have Victoria’s time at Blair Castle documented in this way for the world to see. We have 145,000 acres on Atholl Estates and could easily offer the diverse range of scenery that the show needed, from flowing rivers to vast mountainous backdrops, and of course the pinnacle, which is the beautiful Castle itself. Queen Victoria visited Blair Castle many times over her reign and clearly loved being in Scotland. The Castle still houses items of furniture and other personal belongings of Victoria which were here during her time staying in Blair Atholl.” Two of the estate’s native Highland ponies were used in the filming, as Victoria and Albert’s own ponies. Several Atholl Highlanders, the regiment which Queen Victoria herself founded, also feature in the episode, and were also delighted to be involved. Commenting on the filming, Blair Castle Trustee Sarah Troughton said: “It was fascinating to see Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s visit to Blair Castle and the surrounding hills and glens brought to life in such as engaging manner.”