Elizabeth II- A Very Scottish Queen
Comments of another side of Queen Elizabeth II
A few weeks ago, while watching the coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, one of the media commentators called her the, “Queen of Scots.” I was struck by this statement for two reasons: one, because normally, “Queen of Scots” is synonymous with her great ancestor Mary, Queen of Scots, and two, because upon further thought, I realized that she was in fact a very Scottish Queen.
Her mother, Queen Elizabeth was a member of the Bowes-Lyon Family, one of Scotlands oldest and most noble houses, and the Chiefs of Clan Lyon. The Bowes-Lyon Family had a very big influence on the life of Queen Elizabeth because her parents enjoyed spending time with this large, silly and happy side of their family. As a young princess, Elizabeth was often up in Scotland spending time with that side of her family and letting Scottish traditions permeate into the fabric of who she was. They spent so much time up at Glamis Castle, (the Bowes-Lyon Family home) that her sister, Princess Margaret was actually born there. The Bowes-Lyon Family were also a source of comfort and joy for her father, particularly while he was the Duke of York. This warm and caring Scottish family was just the opposite of his much colder and more serious British Royal Family. It is my belief that a lot of the Bowes-Lyon fun and affection was a huge contributor to the idyllic and loving childhood Elizabeth II’s parents gave her.
While Elizabeth is a direct descendant of the Norman, William the Conqueror, there is also quite a lot Scottish blood in her royal ancestry. As we know, her mother hailed from the Bowes-Lyon Scottish noble house, but her father was a direct descendant of the Royal house of Stuart. The Stuarts were the Scottish Royal family who were the heirs to the English throne after the death of Elizabeth I. Her parents share the common ancestor of Robert II, the son of Marjorie Bruce (daughter of Robert the Bruce) and Walter Stuart. Robert II was father of James I, who is a direct ancestor to Mary Queen of Scots, and her son James VI, who was their heir to Elizabeth I and became the King of Scotland and England. Her mother also descends from Robert II through one of his daughters who married Sir John Lyon, Thane of Glamis. That Glamis is the same Glamis where her mother lived, where she spent so many happy childhood memories, and where the Bowes-Lyon family still reside today.
Along with relations, much of the Royal Family’s culture and tradition comes from Scotland. For about 150 years, the Royal family has used Scotland as a beautiful retreat from the world. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert really cemented this tradition with their purchase of Balmoral Castle and Estate in the Highlands. Strong Scottish traditions that Queen Victoria’s family created are still upheld by the Royal Family today. The Royal Family always spend the late Summer and early Fall in Scotland, primarily on the Balmoral Estate. The Royals normally always attend the highland games that are held there, and have a real kinship with the people who live around Balmoral. The village residents consider the Royal Family to be their neighbors. The Queen would frequent the shops up in the village and was once even told that she, “looked just like the Queen” to which she replied, “How very reassuring.” This is a place of family memories, and where the Royal family can truly be alone. Queen Elizabeth has never been shy about how much she looked forward to going to Scotland each year and it was reported that when she went to Balmoral this Summer, she knew she would not return to England. The fact that this great Queen who held the beautiful land and people of Scotland so dear passed away there is lovely in my opinion. She was able to spend time lying in state in Edinburgh, and the Scottish people, with whom she was so deeply connected, were able to pay their respects to the Queen of Scots.
*An image that truly captures the Queen as Queen of Scots and “Chief of Chiefs” is this piece that is on display at the National Gallery in Scotland. So lovely!
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/130821
Until Next Time,
McKenzie