On February 26th, 1992, we were honoured by a visit from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, our Honorary Colonel, accompanied by The Lady Margaret Colville, Lady in Waiting and Sir Alastair Aird, Her Majesty's Comptroller. The main purpose for the visit was for Her Majesty to lunch with the Serving Officers and also to view the Painting by Miss Joan Wanklyn which the Regimental Trustees had commissioned to commemorate the official opening of "95" on Tuesday, 26th April, 1988. This was to take place in the newly refurbished Queen Elizabeth Room.

At midday Her Majesty arrived and was welcomed outside Headquarters by the Regimental Colonel and the Regimental Secretary. The Queen Mother was looking most elegant in a blue/green velvet coat and hat to match, complete with London Scottish brooch.

On entering the foyer Lieutenant Colonel David Thornycroft, CO 1/51 Highland Volunteers and Major Mark Ludlow, OC of "G" Company were presented to Her Majesty. Also present was an armed guard provided by "G" Company and some representatives from the London Scottish Cadet Companies. Her Majesty spoke to each in turn before entering the main hall to inspect a small quarter guard in No. 1 Dress, complete with the latest SA80 rifle. Her Majesty was most impressed by their smartness and bearing, and by the excellence of their drill. She spoke to several of the guard before being conducted up the stairs to The Queen Elizabeth Room (the canteen). The reception there was for those who served the Regiment in various ways, and because numbers were limited attendance was by invitation. Her Majesty spoke to most of those present, including Lieutenant Colonel Peter McLelland, CO designate of The London Regiment, and other Officers from the Units which are to make up the new Regiment. On view in the canteen was the painting by Miss Wanklyn, and Her Majesty spoke at length to the artist and thought that the painting was first class. Not only did it depict an historic occasion, but so many individual faces were instantly recognisable.

From the canteen Her Majesty proceeded to the Officers' Mess where she met her Officers, past and present, together with the Regimental Trustees.

During luncheon Her Majesty commented on what a jolly party it was. There was certainly a great buzz of conversation and laughter. Colonel Clemence said this was always so whenever Her Majesty was present. He remembered the first occasion when he, as a young Subaltern, had anxiously awaited a Royal visit only to find that it was a happy relaxed occasion, and he was sure that the young Officers who were present would remember the day, as he did that day years ago. Her Majesty said that this was kind, and reminisced over the circumstances of her appointment in 1935, and how flattered she had been that the Regiment had not taken no for an answer and had been prepared to wait for the Royal Consent to eventually be forthcoming. After the Loyal Toast Colonel Clemence proposed Her Majesty's health as follows:- "Your Majesty,

May I be forgiven if I say a few words. The fewness of them will be welcomed by my friends in the Regiment who know that I am better with figures, or numbers, perhaps I should say.

In a few months time, Ma'am, you will have been our Colonel for 57 years (at this point Her Majesty enquired of the Regimental Colonel whether he was sure he had got his numbers right). 57 is a number which to those as old as I or older, is usually associated with variety or varieties. And I suppose it would be fair to say, Ma'am, that you have seen more variety in the world than most of us. Through it all, for us, as for those in all the many organisations to which you have devoted so much time, you, Ma'am, have represented the constancy which we all need in times of change.

When your Coloneley was gazetted we were the 14th County of London Bn, The London Regiment, and in a few weeks we will have gone full circle back to The London Regiment.

We are deeply honoured that you have once again found the time to visit us, and no words of mine can express the devotion which succeeding generations of London Scots have felt".

Those present responded to the toast with great feeling, and after he had resumed his seat, Her Majesty suggested to the Regimental Colonel that some kind of celebration would be appropriate in 3 years time!

The Company was then entertained by Her Majesty's Pipe Majors, past and present, David Duncan, John Spoore and lan King, who played the following set: Castle of Mey, The Haughs of Cromdale, The Braes of Mar, The Ghlass-Ault and The Back O'Benachie.

Her Majesty then withdrew to the Sergeants' Mess where she was photographed with her Pipers and met their wives and the Mess President, Drum Major Micky Powell. Her Majesty then went into the foyer, signed the Visitor's Book, and proceeded to the library to meet members of the permanent staff, Colour Sergeant Mick Kessack, Sergeant Ian Strutt, Donna Logan (Orderly Room Clerk), Azmat Qureshi (Storeman) and Roy Stevens the Librarian. Mrs Audrey Scriven, who had catered for the function, was also presented, as were Eric Thomson and Jack Tilbury who had acted as ushers throughout the visit.

To conclude her visit Her Majesty descended to the hall where she was photographed with her London Scottish Officers, together with Lieutenant Colonel David Thornycroft. Colonel Clemence then bade farewell to The Lady Margaret Colville and Sir Alastair Aird, and lent his arm to assist Her Majesty down our rather steep front steps. Her Majesty paused to speak to some of the crowd who had waited for her departure, accepting a bunch of daffodils from one lady. The Regimental Colonel then said goodbye to Her Majesty and Pipe

Major King played until the Royal car disappeared around the corner towards Rochester Row.

So the visit had come to an end, but its memory will linger in our minds for many months to come. We wish her Majesty the best of health for the future, and hope that we will be able to hold her to her suggestion of a party in three years time when she will have been our Honorary Colonel for 60 years.

The following letter, addressed to the Regimental Colonel, was received from Clarence House: 

"Dear John

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother commands me to write and let you know how much Her Majesty enjoyed visiting The London Scottish.

The Queen Mother was most impressed by the smartness and bearing of The Quarter Guard and by the excellence of their arms drill. It also gave Her Majesty great pleasure to meet so many members of The Regiment, both past and present, in The Queen Elizabeth Room. The Honorary Colonel indeed thought Miss Wanklyn's picture was first class, for not only does the painting depict an historic occasion but so many of the individual faces are instantly recognisable. .

Finally Queen Elizabeth bids me thank you for a most delicious Luncheon and for all your kindness and hospitality.

May I also say how much Lady Margaret Colville and I appreciated all you did to make our visit so enjoyable.

Sir Alastair Aird 
Comptroller to 
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

Last updated 21st September 2000