The Scottish Government has announced the Scotland Legacy Group, a group of key experts who will propose a permanent memorial in Scotland to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The development comes after the UK Government who are currently planning major national memorial to Elizabeth II in the heart of London with the Scottish group making a suite of ideas to the First Minister in due course. The ideas will then be presented to The King.
The group will be chaired by Dr Joseph Morrow, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who will be joined by Dr Anna Keay, director of the Landmark Trust, history professor Chandrika Kaul, retired Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Stewart, V&A Dundee director Leonie Bell, National Galleries of Scotland director general Anne Lyden, and Helen Webster, Secretary for Commissions at the Scottish government.
Queen Elizabeth II’s love for Scotland was a constant throughout her life, beginning in her earliest days until her final days. Her connection to the country stemmed from her maternal heritage with her mother, the youngest daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore, hailing from a Scottish family who lived at Glamis Castle in Angus.
As Princess, Elizabeth spent a great deal of her childhood making happy memories with her parents at Balmoral Castle and her grandparents at Glamis. Writing in a letter aged 11 to her grandmother, she affectionately wrote her stay at Glamis as “one of the happiest weeks I have ever spent.”
Her public service over the border began in Aberdeen in 1944 with her first Royal Opening as a teenager with her final duty overseeing the appointment of Liz Truss as Prime Minister occurring at Balmoral just days before her passing.
During her time on the throne, the late Queen visited nearly every part of Scotland, from opening Scottish Parliament, addressing the Church of Scotland Assembly, opening bridges and launching ships.
Away from a busy public schedule, it was Balmoral Castle that offered her a temporary period of privacy and relaxation where she could enjoy walking and riding on the estate, attending Crathie Kirk, and visiting local friends and relatives.
Scotland’s Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Queen Elizabeth meant so much to so many people in Scotland and it is right that we pay tribute to her remarkable 70-year reign and life of public service.
“The scenes as Her Majesty’s cortege made the journey from Balmoral Castle, where she died, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, demonstrated how much she was loved in the country where she spent so much of her private time.
“I am very grateful to the group for taking this opportunity to deliver a fitting tribute from the people of Scotland to Her Majesty The Queen.”
Dr Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms and Chair of the group, said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to develop and advise on a Scottish memorial to Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her extraordinary reign and dedicated life of public service. I am determined to create the space for a truly Scottish memorial and delighted to be working alongside such a talented group of individuals to do so.”
“The group will engage with communities across the country to allow us to envisage a Scottish memorial and a lasting symbol of remembrance and gratitude for the late Queen. Queen Elizabeth had a deep affinity for Scotland, and it is a privilege to create a legacy that can inspire generations to come.”
