A unique Perthshire institution, Europe’s only private army, will play a colourful role in celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday.
A 20-strong group of Atholl Highlanders have been invited to attend the televised celebrations for the royal birthday on May 15 in London, which the Queen herself will attend.
Jim Clarkson of VisitScotland said the royal invitation would introduce the spectacle of the Atholl Highlanders to a massive new audience.
“It is fantastic to hear that a number of Atholl Highlanders will be showcased to a global audience when they take part in the celebrations for her majesty’s 90th birthday in London later this month,” he said.
The Highlanders, who have close bonds with the monarchy, are also busy preparing for their annual parade and gathering at Blair Castle on the weekend of May 28 and 29.
Scott Robertson of Blair Castle and Atholl Estates described the London trip as “a tremendous honour”.
“We are thrilled for them, and it continues to put the Highlanders on the map,” he said. “We are gearing up for another annual gathering and parade here at the castle, which continues to attract guests from all over the world, who come to enjoy the colour and the spectacle.”
Blair Castle archivist Jane Anderson who has researched the history of the Atholl Highlanders explained how the first “gathering” came about in 1845.
“Queen Victoria made her first visit to Scotland in 1842 where Lord Glenlyon, later the 6th Duke of Atholl, took a bodyguard of his men to greet her at Dunkeld, with several other local lairds,” she said. “There was dancing, piping and lunch and the Queen was said to be impressed with the Highlanders, as well as thoroughly entertained.
“Two years later, in May 1844, she returned to Blair Castle for a holiday with Prince Albert. The Atholl men stood guard during this stay of unprecedented informality when Albert stalked and the Queen enjoyed pony rides. In recognition of this service she granted the Highlanders the right to carry the Queen’s colour and thus to bear arms.
“Throughout the rest of the 19th century, under the 6th and 7th Dukes, the Highlanders paraded annually at Blair Castle, provided a guard for members of the royal family and for distinguished visitors such as the Maharajah Duleep Singh and the Grand Duke Constantine.
“During the Great War of 1914-18, the Highlanders went into abeyance due to most of the men being called up for service.”
It was in 1966 that the 10th Duke decided to revive the Highlanders which is made up of men who live or work on the estate and officers who are local lairds.
They have visited Atholl in America and South Africa, the home of the present 12th Duke, whose two sons are in the current regiment.
