Remembering Her Majesty The Queen
The National Trust for Scotland has a long association with the Royal Family: Her Majesty The Queen Mother was our first Royal Patron, followed by the former Duke of Rothesay. It has been our honour to host many Royal visits.
Falkland Palace & Garden
Once the favourite royal retreat of Mary, Queen of Scots, Falkland Palace has seen many regal residents. Her Majesty The Queen visited Falkland twice over the course of her reign: once in June 1958 and then again in 1991.
To mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we exhibited, for the first time, a Royal Company of Archers uniform from our collection within the Keeper’s Dressing Room. In 1822, the Royal Company of Archers formed the bodyguard for George IV during his visit to Edinburgh and they later became the official sovereign’s bodyguard in Scotland; they still carry out duties at State and ceremonial occasions to this day. This week, they stood vigil over Her Majesty’s coffin in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh.
St Kilda
One of the most remote places in the National Trust for Scotland’s care, St Kilda received the Queen for an official visit in 1971. Arriving on the Royal Yacht Britannia, Her Majesty toured Hirta (the main island in the archipelago), alongside her husband Prince Philip and her children. In the photo below, Her Majesty is shown walking with a special Trust delegation, including the Earl of Wemyss and March, among the abandoned cottages on the island. In 1930 the remaining community had made the difficult decision to leave St Kilda after the way of life became unsustainable.
Culloden
In June 2009, Queen Elizabeth visited the battlefield site of Culloden. This emotive place is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland in remembrance of the brutal battle that resulted in the conclusion of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Her Majesty was accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and met with Trust staff as well as local school children. She also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit, which you can see in the photo below.
Earlier this year, we were thrilled to learn that four of the woodlands in our care became part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, a nationwide network of 70 Ancient Woodlands dedicated to The Queen in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee. The woodlands and trees were chosen to represent the diverse canopy of the four nations. We are very proud to play our part in protecting these precious spaces, now and for the future. Our regeneration and management work will ensure that they continue to thrive for many centuries to come, a lasting celebration of the legacy of Her Majesty The Queen.
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Her Majesty The Queen
The National Trust for Scotland has expressed its deep sadness at the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
Four woodlands chosen for Ancient Canopy celebration
The sites are part of a nationwide network of 70 Ancient Woodlands to be dedicated to The Queen in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee.
Planting trees for the jubilee
An oak tree planted at Haddo House marks the beginning of our charity’s participation in The Queen’s Green Canopy.
A Jubilee exhibition at Falkland Palace
As part of Falkland Palace’s celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee we are delighted to exhibit, for the first time, a Royal Company of Archers uniform from our collection within the Keeper’s Dressing Room.