Balmoral Castle has served as more than just the beloved retreat of Queen Elizabeth, King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family—the estate has also presented newcomers to the royal fold with an unspoken initiation known as the "Balmoral Test." Viewers of The Crown are familiar with the tradition, as dramatized in Season 4 of the Netflix hit when Princess Diana made her first visit to the Scottish castle. The so-called Balmoral Test isn't written down anywhere, but those who have faced it know the stakes: impress the family in their favorite setting, or risk being deemed unsuitable.
Princess Diana won over the Windsors when she first arrived at Balmoral in the summer of 1980. Even though she'd later grow to hate trips to Scotland, the shy nursery school teacher passed the Balmoral test by showing her humor during games and country pursuits. Fast forward to 2025, and Peter Phillips's new fiancée, Harriet Sperling, is facing the same initiation as she's joined the Royal Family during their annual Scottish vacation for the first time.
