King Charles was presented with a stained glass window featuring Balmoral during an emotional visit to Deeside today.
The King and Queen Consort attended a special reception in Ballater to thank communities across Aberdeenshire for their kindness and support following the Queen’s death last month.
They met some of the 550 people who played a vital part in organising the Queen’s final journey through the north-east.
From the farmers and riders who lined up on tractors and horses to pay their final respects, to the emergency services and community groups who played a huge part in ensuring the smooth running of the cortege, Charles and Camilla made time to speak to all.
Among those waiting to greet the monarch was Keith artist Shona McInnes, who made a stained glass window depicting scenes from Balmoral.
The piece was commissioned by the Aberdeenshire Lieutenancy as a platinum jubilee gift for the Queen.
King and Queen Consort arrived under lively sounds of pipes
Dozens gathered at the town’s Victoria and Albert Halls. Donning a Charles Edward Stewart tartan as a token of his “strong and enduring” ties with Scotland, the King arrived to the lively sounds of pipes.
Major James Cooper played Scotland the Brave as the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Sandy Manson, and his wife, Barbara, welcomed the couple.
Tears filled people’s eyes as the King immediately headed to the scores of locals patiently waiting to meet and “share a word or two” with him.
A bright smile appeared on Carolyn Munro’s face as the King stopped by her and gently shook her hand.
Still shaking from the experience, the 66-year-old from Ballater said: “I’ve met him so often because I live in Ballater, but somehow it was different today.
“Things have changed now. It’s such an honour to meet him as King.
“He is such a nice gentleman, he always has something to say to you and he looks you straight in the eye. He genuinely cares and wants to know about us.”
King ‘honoured’ by riders
A line-up of horses and tractors proudly stood outside the Victoria and Albert Halls as the King made his way to meet the people who held the unique tributes to the Queen.
Rodney Blackhall and Keith Mitchell were among the tractor drivers who took part in the guard of honour as the Queen’s coffin passed, and chatted to the royals.
Vicky Shirreffs, Lindsay Bartlett and Danielle McDonald had come to represent the riders who “stood for all equestrians” as the Queen’s coffin travelled through the region.
A total of 12 riders from Old Milltimber Farm Livery – including six-year-old Eilidh Scott – lined up near Peterculter for the Queen’s final journey to commemorate her love for horses.
The trio from Old Milltimber Farm Livery was today accompanied by 17-year-old horses Penny and Ryan, who “behaved impeccably” as Their Majesties fed them carrots.
Mrs Shirreffs, 39, who had never met the King and the Queen Consort before, described the moment as “surreal”.
She said: “His Majesty said that he was honoured that we did this for his mum and that she would have absolutely loved it.
“Our only concern was that Penny and Ryan might misbehave as the Queen Consort was feeding them carrots, but gladly they behaved impeccably.
“And I think the one thing that maybe we didn’t expect was that they acted like normal people not like royalty. They are genuinely lovely people.”
Staff and pupils from Crathie Primary School also had the opportunity to meet the King and Queen Consort.
‘We were sending off one of our own’
After a brief welcome with Aberdeenshire Council officials, His Majesty entered the village hall where he viewed a digital and paper display of the media coverage about his mother’s death.
He went through pages from The Press and Journal’s special edition on the Queen’s final journey through Aberdeenshire, as well as articles from other publications.
Dozens of representatives from emergency services, Aberdeenshire Council and the local community had gathered in the hall, with each group getting a chance to have a chat.
Among the locals invited to join the special reception were Reverend David Barr and his wife Lorraine, as well as Ballater Community Council chairman Jim Anderson.
They were joined by Robin Phillips, from the Ballater branch of the Royal British Legion, who were among those to line up along the route of the cortege.
As one of the main figures to take part in the organisation of Operation Unicorn, Mr Phillips said seeing the Queen’s hearse pass by was unforgettable.
He added: “It’s gone full circle now – we had the late Queen’s passing and now we got the new King. It’s been an honour.”
Rev Barr said: “Everybody involved just came together – and we all came together because we loved our Queen.
“That’s the reason why everybody wanted to do their best – because we loved her and she deserved the best.”
His wife, Lorraine, added: “Here, it was more of a family coming together. It was very personal. We were sending off one of our own.
“And he hasn’t changed from being the prince. Even as King, he is just as caring and interested in his people as he always has been.”
King and Queen Consort ‘love’ Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire Council leader Mark Findlater said it had been a “huge honour” to attend the reception, and praised the authority’s part in Operation Unicorn – the codename for the plans for the aftermath of the Queen’s death.
“I’m so proud of the way Aberdeenshire Council has performed – all down to planning, preparation and meticulous execution.
“We owe everything to the 550 people who took part in Operation Unicorn and made it an appropriate send-off.”
Mr Findlater said it was “fantastic” to see how comfortable the King and Queen Consort were at Ballater.
He added: “The best part was when the Queen Consort said to me ‘This is why we love Aberdeenshire and we don’t want to leave. It’s like going back to school when we have to leave’.”
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