As the Queen prepares to celebrate her 92nd birthday this month, another Royal milestone has been reached at her mother’s former Scottish castle.
In the Castle of Mey kitchen, the Queen Mum’s old fridge is still going strong after 64 years and has just passed its annual electrical test.
The remarkable appliance is even included on the tours of the Caithness castle, which opened for Easter this weekend.
Just like the Queen Mum, the Frigidaire made by General Motors in England was built to last a long time. In fact, it has been in service almost as long as the Queen has been on the throne.
It was purchased by the Queen Mother in 1954 – two years after she bought the Castle of Mey. Its greatest use is when her grandson Prince Charles visits every August.
When visitors are given a tour of the kitchen, the old fridge is pointed out – still humming away.
The only time it had a problem was when modern technology invaded its domain. Underfloor central heating was installed in 2000 which seemed to upset its temperature control.
So it was put on blocks and worked fine.
Shirley Farquhar, the castle’s managing director, said: ”It was given its annual electrical check-up and has passed again. It is an essential part of the kitchen and working perfectly. It was certainly built to last.”
It is believed the Queen Mother personally selected and approved its purchase from nearby Wick.
Previously, an aide revealed that the Queen Mother refused to buy a television set for her home at the Castle of Mey.
According to Ashe Windham, who served as her equerry at the castle, she even refused to replace her modest collection of six Burberry raincoats.
The Queen Mother, who died in 2002, aged 101, rented a television set and video recorder for her annual stay at the remote castle.
She first saw what was then Barrogill Castle in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband, King George VI.
Having acquired the most northerly castle on the British mainland, the Queen Mother renovated it and created beautiful walled gardens.
And now, instead of opening in mid-May, the castle has welcomed visitors over the Easter weekend.
It will open on Wednesdays and Thursdays and then fully from May 1 and will close to the public on September 30.
The decision by trustees – headed by Prince Charles – to open the castle so early is because of the tourist boom on the North Coast 500.
Last season, 25,454 visitors flocked to the castle.
