These are the images which bookend a young Princess’s lifelong love of the Angus castle where her most treasured childhood memories were made.
From the carefree fun of running around the manicured gardens of Glamis to the first favourite horse of an equally enduring equine passion.
And then, exactly five years ago to this day in 2017, a poignant, personal moment at the landmark’s Queen Mother Memorial gates as Her Majesty bade goodbye to Glamis for what would prove to be the final time.
The private photographs have been graciously shared with The Courier by Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore.
On many occasions she welcomed the Queen, Prince Philip and other Royals to the family seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
Some were private occasions, others grand Royal events such as the Glamis Gathering Angus celebration of the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012.
But the Countess believes that September day was the one the then 91-year-old monarch knew would be the last time she would savour the majestic view of the 650-year-old castle down its sweeping drive to the natural glory of the Angus glens beyond.
Lady Strathmore, now 90, said: “Her Majesty was here on her own on September 12 2017.
“I do think she knew it might be her last visit and she had come to say goodbye to Glamis.
“I had her on my golf buggy for around an hour and a half and we went around the castle grounds.”
The relaxed tour included the Queen’s first visit to the memorial erected in honour of her late sister, Princess Margaret, who was born at Glamis in 1930.
“I heard wonderful stories of what they did when they were children here at Glamis,” added the Countess.
“She always had a great affection for Glamis and so many happy memories here.”
Then, as the Queen prepared to leave Angus, she received a farewell kiss from the Countess at the Queen Mother memorial gates unveiled by Charles and Camilla in 2008.
The poignant moment was captured on camera by Margaret and Sandy Ingram, who live in the village and are close friends of the Countess.
“It was a personal photograph which we passed on to Lady Strathmore, and now has a special significance to her,” said Margaret.
The Countess is the widow of Fergus Bowes-Lyon, 17th and 4th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne who died in 1987. Her grandson, Sam, is the current Earl.
She lives in the Borders having moved there from Glamis some years ago.
On Monday, she was at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh for the service of thanksgiving.
“It is a terribly sad occasion, but I think what is wonderful to me is the response of people all over the country, and particularly the young people,” she said.
Rich castle archive
The castle archives have a host of images of the young Elizabeth – known then as Lilibet – enjoying the surroundings of her grandparents’ Angus home.
And the Glamis collection includes a thank you letter penned by the 11-year-old future Queen in 1937 after a week in Angus which was “one of the happiest” in her young life.
Since the monarch’s death on Thursday, visitors from around the world have been signing a book of condolence at the castle.
And the Queen Mother gates have become the focus for floral tributes laid by locals and some of the thousands of international tourists who are drawn there annually by the castle’s rich history and Royal connections.
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