THE QUEEN A touching personal account reveals how she cares for those close to her
REVEALS HER MAJESTY’S KINDNESS TOWARDS HIS FAMILY IN THEIR TIME OF NEED
The Queen’s caring nature has been brought into the spotlight once more after her former personal piper opened up about the kindness she showed him and his family in the toughest of times.
Pipe Major Scott Methven said the monarch told him to put his family first when his wife Morven was rushed to hospital after being diagnosed with terminal cancer when they were at Balmoral in 2017.
He was also told not to worry about children Fearghas, then five, and Lilly-Grace, who was 12, and to leave them at the castle to be looked after by the staff – and play with the younger members of the family.
“The nannies were there. They all mucked in and helped out,” said Scott, who played for the Queen from 2015 t o 2 0 1 9 . “[ The children] stayed up at Balmoral Castle while I was away.”
As well as watching red squirrels with the Duke of Edinburgh, Fearghas was able to “run about” with Prince George. “They would maybe have a wee argument over a toy tractor, which was quite funny.”
The Queen even arranged for a basket of strawberries and muffins to be sent to the nurses caring for Morven and told Scott to leave his duties whenever he needed, adding he should tell anyone who queried this that “I told you so”.
The piper continued: “People on the military side were conscious about me getting back to work, but the Queen said: ‘Absolutely not. It’s family first. You have as much time as you need to look after your wife.’”
He added: “I was the Queen’s escort and we would always have a wee chat. She was so understanding.”
The Queen later allowed the family to stay at Windsor Castle and visit Buckingham Palace during Morven’s final months.
“People genuinely think what you will about the royal family or the Queen,” Scott said. “But they pulled it out of the bag for me.”
‘The Queen said: “It’s family fifirst. You have as much time as you need to look after your wife”’