4 Allegedly Haunted Royal Residences — and the One Queen Camilla Was Afraid to Revisit

Royal palaces are known for their grandeur, but behind the glitz, there's a lot about the palaces we don't know. From spirits reportedly roaming castle corridors to a Scottish mansion that left Queen Camilla feeling uneasy, these five royal properties carry some spooky tales. There are multiple reports that these places are haunted, and stories shared by historians and paranormal experts have kept the rumors alive.

Dumfries House in Scotland is one royal residence that reportedly left Camilla feeling frightened. King Charles took a personal interest in saving the 18th-century mansion and restoring its historic interiors. However, according to paranormal expert Richard Felix, Camilla believed something was unsettling about the property. Speaking on A Right Royal Podcast, he said, "Apparently, Queen Camilla would not go into the place." He recalled how she had visited once before, reportedly saying, "I can't go in here, there's something here." Camilla also spoke about her experience in The Real Camilla in 2018, admitting, "I literally froze." She said she left thinking she did not want to return for a few years. However, after Charles completed the renovation, Camilla explained that "whatever was there had disappeared," and the whole house seemed to be "smiling again."

Windsor Castle has witnessed centuries of royal history, from grand celebrations to royal weddings. But according to local legends, some of its former residents never left. The castle is said to be haunted by several figures, including King Henry VIII and King George III. One particularly interesting story involves the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, who was Charles's grandmother. According to reports, her spirit is believed to roam the castle's library, with the sound of her heels reportedly giving her away. People shared that another chilling tale involves a young Grenadier Guard who is said to have died by suicide on the Long Walk.

Hampton Court Palace has a particularly dark history, with two of King Henry VIII's wives said to haunt its corridors. One of them is Jane Seymour, the King's third wife, who died at the palace in 1537, just days after giving birth to their son, the future King Edward VI. According to reports, a pale figure believed to be Jane has reportedly been seen on the Silverstick Stairs, which lead towards the room where she died. The other is Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife, who was executed in 1542 after being accused of adultery. Legend has it that her spirit can still be heard screaming as she runs along a corridor, desperately trying to reach the King and plead for mercy.

Balmoral Castle in Scotland is best known as a royal family retreat, but one ghost story associated with the estate centres on a man who was particularly close to Queen Victoria. John Brown was a Scottish servant who became a trusted companion of the Queen. Their close relationship attracted considerable attention, and rumors even suggest that they had fallen in love. Brown is said to haunt the castle, with stories claiming that his spirit has been spotted in the corridors wearing his traditional kilt.

Prince William and Princess Kate's country residence, Anmer Hall, is also linked to a reported haunting. According to paranormal expert Richard Felix, the property is said to be haunted by Henry Walpole, a Catholic priest who was tortured and executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Felix claimed that the ghost of a priest has been seen wandering around the estate and that the Prince and Princess of Wales were warned about the story before moving in. However, the tale apparently did not put William off. Recalling the story on A Right Royal Podcast, Felix said, "I presume it was from Prince William," before adding that the comment was, "No old hall would be complete without a ghost, would it?"