The Longest serving Argyll

This February, we would like to focus our blog on the longest serving Argyll, the late Queen Elizabeth II. On the 6^th of February 1952, 73 years ago today, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. However, Queen Elizabeth had already become Colonel-in-Chief to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders five years before her accession to the throne, having been appointed by her father King George VI on her 21^st birthday on the 21^st of April 1947.

As Colonel-in-Chief, Queen Elizabeth enjoyed a close association with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders throughout the years. Her first contact with the regiment was on the 15^th of July 1947 when she met members of the regiment in Edinburgh and was presented with a regimental brooch as well as a sash in the regimental tartan. Queen Elizabeth is wearing this brooch in the below portrait of her along with the robes of the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle. During a parade at Stirling Castle on the 20^th of September 1947, she was granted the Freedom of the Royal Burgh of Stirling, and the regiment was also granted the Burgh’s Freedom. Representatives of the regiment were also present at her wedding to the then Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on the 20^th of November 1947, as well as her coronation on the 2^nd of June 1953.

Queen Elizabeth’s first visit to the 1^st Battalion was on the 3^rd of June 1949 shortly before their embarkation to Hong Kong (see below photograph). Four years later, Queen Elizabeth presented new Colours to the 1^st Battalion in June 1953 in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in front of 3000 Regimental guests.

In July 1972, she visited the 1^st Battalion shortly after it had been increased back to battalion strength at Ritchie Camp, Kirknewton, following the ‘Save The Argylls’ campaign. Other great regimental occasions that Queen Elizabeth was present for include the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Raising of the Regiment on the 10^th of February 1994 at Folkestone, as well as a Beating Retreat and Dinner with all the former Commanding Officers at Stirling Castle in 1997 to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of her appointment as Colonel-in-Chief. The below picture shows Queen Elizabeth unveiling of Carin in Balmoral to mark her 50^th anniversary as Colonel-in-Chief.

Queen Elizabeth also developed associations with the wider Argyll family. In 1950, as HRH Princess Elizabeth, she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. In 1981, she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Calgary Highlanders.

In March 2006, The Royal Regiment of Scotland was formed after the amalgamation of the Scottish infantry regiments. Queen Elizabeth became Colonel-in-Chief of the new Regiment and the Royal Colonel of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5^th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. This allowed her to maintain her close association to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Under the reorganisation of the Army in June 2013 this battalion was reduced to company strength, however, Queen Elizabeth remained the Royal Colonel until her death on the 8^th of September 2022. The Balaklava Company had the privilege of providing Her Majesty’s Royal Guard at Balmoral where she died.

Queen Elizabeth II served the Argylls for 75 years. The Regiment and museum continue to recognise the remarkable dedication and commitment that she made to our Regiment and to our country. Part of our museum display is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth and details a number of visits and events that she attended with the Regiment over 75 years. You can visit the display at the museum in Stirling Castle for a closer look. We have been honoured to have had the Queen visit our museum on multiple occasions. The picture above shows Queen Elizabeth II with General Sir Patrick Palmer in the museum. The silver piece that they are looking at is displayed in our museum as well as the dress that the Queen wore that day! 

The museum team are grateful that Queen Elizabeth II officially reopened the redeveloped and refurbished museum in 2021.

Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2021)

Ne Obliviscaris, Sans Peur

Written by Caitlin Stewart, Digital Content Volunteer