It’s 9 am at Windsor Castle and outside her day-room window Queen Elizabeth II is serenaded with bagpipes. It may sound like a scene from Camelot, but there actually is a much-coveted position of Piper to the Sovereign – currently held by Pipe Major Richard Grisdale from the Royal Regiment of Scotland. And in fact, the tradition is a bit more modern than King Arthur; it was established in 1843 by the Queen’s great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who loved the romance of the Scottish woodwind instruments.
I am reliably informed that Her Majesty is either finishing breakfast or at her work desk when the pipes blow, and even in COVID-19 lockdown, the soulful strains sing out and continue for an exacting 15 minutes each day. It’s a charming ritual that plays out in Windsor, Buckingham Palace and Balmoral – wherever Her Majesty lays her crown!
Ancient tradition mixed with the glittering grandeur and magic of royalty is what sets the monarchy apart from us, creating a world we love to gaze on. But what has kept the Queen running the show as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch has been also ensuring a strong connection with the people.
That golden thread has been more crucial than ever as Her Majesty remains in lockdown, protected in Windsor Castle by a fiercely loyal team of around 22 core staff, all of whom have willingly given up the chance to be with their own families for three weeks at a stretch in order to serve their Sovereign and her Prince. It’s a well-oiled machine that works on a rotation system so that all staff are tested and isolated to ensure that the “HMS Bubble”, as it’s dubbed, is 100 per cent safe for all concerned.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
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This story is from the July 2020 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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