The Queen’s Garden Party at Balmoral on Tuesday 7 August was attended by a number of people from Kincardineshire.
They were invited to the event which rounds off her main Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It was the first time a garden party had been held at the Royal Deeside castle since the Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as she mingled with the 3000 guests.
Carol Kinghorn, the Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire, helped introduce guests to the royal hosts.
North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison was among those enjoying the afternoon with their partners and spouses, despite the damp weather. He said later: “It was a delightful occasion, with dainty sandwiches and cakes on the lawn, rounded off by the pipes and drums playing as the Queen sat in front of the castle.
“Among the local people I saw were former Portlethen GP Denis Durno, retired Stonehaven councillor George Swapp, Aberdeenshire Council’s area manager Willie Munro, Newtonhill’s Iain McLeod who is immediate past-president of the local Rotary Club, former Portlethen councillor Paul Melling, Stonehaven community councillor David Fleming, and Councillor Bill Howatson from St Cyrus.”
Balmoral has been one of the Royal Family’s private residencies since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen. It remains the private property of the monarch, and has remained a favourite residence for the Queen and her family during the summer holidays.