People thought it was a ‘widow’s folly’ but Prince Charles says the Castle of Mey is ‘magical’
Queen Elizabeth bought the castle only months after my grandfather died and some described it at the time as a ‘widow’s folly’.
“Over the next half-century the castle, with its spectacular views and wind blowing from all points of the compass, provided a wonderful haven for my grandmother from the often stifling heat of the Thames Valley in August, and a place where she could entertain younger relations and friends.
“It remained out of the public eye. Queen Elizabeth loved it and was deeply grateful to the local people, who discreetly accepted her into their midst whilst making her feel very welcome.”
The Prince says that when the Queen Mum “with great foresight” set up a charitable trust for the castle in 1996 “she wanted to make sure that those who worked at Mey should continue to have a job, whilst being happy for the castle and grounds to be shared with a wider audience for the benefit of the local community”. Prince Charles – as the Duke of Rothesay, his title in Scotland – is president of the trust and its sole trustee.
“I am very grateful to the trustees who have preserved the essence of Queen Elizabeth’s long ownership of the castle, whilst transforming it into one of the north of Scotland’s most admired visitor attractions,” he writes. “My commitment to the castle is stronger than ever and I will seek to build upon past successes to ensure it remains as a worthy memorial to my beloved grandmother and for visitors to the northernmost shores of mainland Britain to enjoy it as much as I do.”
Indeed, the castle welcomed nearly 29,000 visitors last year – almost a record – helped in part by the now famous North Coast 500 road trip, hailed as one of the world’s greatest drives, which the Prince’s North Highland Initiative launched.
What’s more, you or I can stay within the grounds by booking into the estate’s Granary Lodge B&B – jokingly dubbed Heir B&B – which opened this year in what used to house the granary and stables. There are 10 bedrooms and guests have use of a drawing room with spectacular views over the Pentland Firth to Orkney. Prices for a night start at around £145.
THE Queen Mother’s love for the castle was recorded by Godfrey Talbot, the official royal court correspondent in 1978: “Even when in London she keeps regularly in touch with the factor of Mey about the progress of the sheep she has; the health of her herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle; and the sale of the flowers and fruit from the fine old walled garden.”
Prince Charles has just spent a week at the castle, overseeing its gardens with TV’s Alan Titchmarsh, who knew the Queen Mother well and is honorary patron of the castle’s friends’ organisation. Titchmarsh recently donated a large collection of roses for the Shell Garden and has said that it is his “favourite”.
Ashe Windham, who served
as the Queen Mother’s equerry at the castle and is now a trustee of the Prince’s Foundation, says keeping “a wonderful old building weatherproof in the face of ferocious winds and rain remains a constant challenge” and that it’s only possible with a “steady stream of visitors to keep us solvent”.
“The trust is very fortunate that HRH takes such a close interest in the castle. It gives people who live in one of our most remote mainland communities a real boost, both morally and financially, that the heir to the throne should choose to spend 10 days of his precious holidays each year in Caithness.”
One might wonder, though, how the style of the reputedly fastidious Prince contrasts with that of his grandmother.
According to Mr Windham the parsimonious royal – who died in 2002, aged 101 – refused to replace her modest collection of six Burberry raincoats, wearing them year after year. And she opted to rent rather than own a TV and video recorder.