Few of us can remember a time when The Queen was not on the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Her very sudden departure has taken us all by surprise and, from the emotions triggered by the sad news of her death, it is clear that the country will require a period of adjustment to come to terms with its loss.
For more than 70 years Queen Elizabeth II provided a faultless example to the country of selfless duty and dedicated service to not only her people in this country but also to the world.
She was, of course, a regular visitor to her summer home at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire and I have been privileged to be a Deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire (Her Majesty’s representative in the county) for more than 25 years. One memory I will always treasure was helping at a very happy Garden Party at Balmoral to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
I have absolutely no doubt that King Charles III will follow his mother’s great example.
Long Live The King.
Forbes
Castle Forbes
Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
Malcolm, Lord Forbes, is Chief of the Name and Arms of Forbes. He is also the cousin-in-law, twice removed, of Queen Elizabeth II. His father Captain Nigel Ivan Forbes, then Master of Forbes and later 22nd Lord Forbes, married the Hon. Rosemary Katharine Hamilton-Russell, in 1942. Lady Rosemary was the daughter of Gustavus William Hamilton-Russell, 9th Viscount Boyne (1864–1942) and Margaret Selina Lascelles (1883-1978). Lady Margaret’s brother was Henry Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles and later the 6th Earl of Harewood (1882 –1947), who married Mary, later the Princess Royal, in 1922.