Classic movie soundtrack King's piper would be asked to play at royal parties
The King has continued the tradition of having bagpipes played for 15 minutes every morning from 9am at any royal residence he is staying at.
The custom was first introduced by his great-great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, after she stayed with the Marquess of Breadalbane at Taymouth Castle and enjoyed it so much that she brought it back to England.
Following the Queen's death in September last year, one of her former pipers came forward with some of his favourite memories - including the songs he would be asked to play at royal dinner parties.
Pipe Major Scott Methven, who worked for the Queen until 2019 , told PA News Agency about his "surreal" time living at Buckingham Palace.
Pipe Major Scott Methven revealed what it was like working for the Royal Family (BBC)He recalled the “banter” he had with the “easy-going and funny” monarch during his four-year tenure in royal service.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'
The Pipe Major revealed: "She had really a quick wit as is well-documented. It was just always one-liners, I had so much sort of banter with the Queen, it was great.
"The first time when I was appointed, she turned around and said to me ‘Look, the only reason you got this job is because you’re the same height as me' and then she just walked away.
"I didn't expect it from the Queen if that makes sense. She set the bar so I continued with it and we just used to have a laugh. She was just the most easy-going person to work for."
He continued: "I remember one night, it was just the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and several other members of the family. The invited guests hadn’t arrived so I said I would mix it up and I did movies on the bagpipes.
"I would go around the tables and it would be like Top Gun and the Prince of Wales (now King Charles) had asked if I could do AC/DC Thunderstruck."
The Pipe Major revealed he would often be asked to play songs from Top Gun (1986 CBS Photo Archive)
The Pipe Major played songs from the 1986 classic (2012 Getty Images)Love the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up .
The professional bagpiper also recalled the moment he accidentally called the late Queen Your Royal Highness in Windsor during Royal Ascot week.
He said: "She never missed a beat. She just looked to the right. I said 'I do beg your pardon, good afternoon Your Majesty' and she grabbed me by the arm and said 'Pipes, it has been 60 years since somebody called me Your Royal Highness and I quite liked it.'
"I remember King Charles pulled me to the side and he said to me 'Can I just say, every time I see you with Ma'ma you make her really happy, please just keep doing what you're doing.' It was just a great relationship. She made you feel like she was just your granny."
During his time as the Queen's Piper, Mr Methven lost his mother and wife to terminal illnesses as well as his father within the space of eight months.
Kate rules out receiving romantic gift from Prince William on Valentine's Day
The Pipe Major remembered the late Queen's sense of humour (BBC)Prior to the death of his wife, Mr Methven recalled: "I was standing with the Queen and she said 'If you're not here in the morning and you don't play the bagpipes, then I know you're away. Don't wait to ask anyone, just go home if your family need you because it’s family first.'
"She grabbed me by the arm again and said ‘you know Pipes if anyone has a problem with that you tell them that I said it was okay to go.'
"That's the type of person she was. She was the best employer I've ever had, just fantastic.
"She didn't make you feel like she was your boss. We're talking about the best-known women of the last century and she was just a great person."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
