Royalty saluted
Special link to Argylls
Stirling Castle has welcomed many Royals over the years - but perhaps none quite as warmly as HM The Queen.
Accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh - in what will be one of his last official outings - Her Majesty was at the castle on Wednesday to mark the 70th anniversary of an historic appointment.
In 1947 the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, became Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and her strong links with the Argylls have endured throughout the decades. In 2006, the six Scottish regiments were amalgamated into The Royal Regiment of Scotland (which includes Balaklava Company 5 SCOTS) and the Queen became the Colonel-in-Chief of the new regiment.
For Wednesday’s visit the Queen wore a mulberry, grey and peach ensemble designed by Stewart Parvin, a hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan and her jewellery included the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders brooch. She and the Duke of Edinburgh were met by the Earl of Mar and Kellie, the Hereditary Keeper of Stirling Castle, on their arrival at the castle.
After meeting civic representatives the Queen was presented with a posy by twoyear-old Lottie Dean, daughter of Lance Corporal Christopher Dean of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Mum Samantha said: “We had told her she would be meeting the Queen and have been showing her pictures of her so I think she realised who she was meeting. We were a bit worried about what Lottie was going to do as she kept putting the flowers down but it all turned out well thankfully.”
The Queen was then honoured with a Royal Salute by Balaklava Company 5 Scots before stopping to greet Cruachan, the Shetland pony who is the mascot of the Argylls. Whilst otherwise impeccably behaved Cruachan briefly took more than a passing interest in the posy - although as a keen horse lover the Queen would doubtless have forgiven him.
Following a thanksgiving service in the Chapel Royal, with music from the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met supporters and staff involved in the redevelopment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum before attending a private lunch.