A mother, grandmother and great grandmother with an unerring sense of duty, The Queen was a true modern woman and an example to us all.
From serving as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service as the first female of the Royal family to being an active member of the British Armed Forces, to becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history and continuing to carry out Royal engagements until this week, she astounded us all. We are comforted by the knowledge that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth had a great connection to Scottish Women’s Institutes, having attended meetings in the Balmoral area and visited our headquarters in Edinburgh along with the Duke of Edinburgh in 1964. The couple were hosted by our then National Chairman Mrs P. D. P. Murray of Angus Federation.
In 1967, The Queen and Prince Phillip also attended a reception on the occasion of Scottish Women’s Institutes’ golden jubilee, and 25 years later – for our 75th anniversary – the couple welcomed office bearers and convenors to Balmoral for an afternoon tea... a real treat for members who dined out on that for years to come!
We also know that Her Majesty loved Scotland, especially Balmoral, and answered a letter sent in Doric by Scottish Women’s Institutes’ members saying how much she had enjoyed the correspondence. Her Doric was good by all accounts.
While we reflect on the Elizabethan period which has now sadly closed, I extend the condolences of all of the members of Scottish Women’s Institutes to King Charles III and wish all of the Royal family our sympathy at this sad time.
Long live The King!
Anne Kerr, National President, Scottish Women’s Institutes