Knotless thread...

Backblip

I spent most of today watching the Queen's cortège making its way from Balmoral to Edinburgh.

As I mentioned in a previous blip I am neither a Royalist or an anti-Royalist, but held the Queen in high affection and respected her and her 70 year service of duty greatly.  

From the moment the hearse came through the gates at Balmoral to the moment she arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, her entire journey was one of high emotion.  From the tractor guard of honour by the Aberdeenshire farmers to the many, many people lined along the route, it was clear to see how highly thought of the Queen was.

I didn't watch the entire journey but I did tune back in to see her approach Perth alongside the River Tay then cross the Tay via the Friarton Bridge for the last time, passing so close to Scone Palace, where Scottish Kings were crowned as they sat on the Scone Stone, better known as *The Stone of Destiny.  

Afterwards I was a bit like a knotless thread so some time in the studio with my paint brush, just doodling with watercolour paints really, seemed the best thing to do.

Alan had gone out for the day with Ally and when they returned late evening, it transpired they'd gone to Edinburgh to see the Queen's cortège arriving there.  Ally parked the car and when they got to the Royal mile the crowd on the pavement was 10 deep.  Ally spoke to a police woman standing nearby and explained Alan had wanted to see the Queen arriving in Edinburgh.  The police woman then spoke to the crowd, who parted like the Red Sea and let him through.  He was so happy when he got back for having seen it all.  I didn't know we had a Royalist in the family! 


*The Stone of Destiny is an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy, used for centuries in the inauguration of its kings. Seen as a sacred object, its earliest origins are now unknown.

In 1296, King Edward I of England seized the stone from the Scots, and had it built into a new throne at Westminster. From then on, it was used in the coronation ceremonies of the monarchs of England and then Great Britain.

On Christmas Day 1950, four Scottish students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey in London. Three months later it turned up 500 miles away – at the high altar of Arbroath Abbey.

In 1996, the stone was officially returned to Scotland. Today, it is one of the priceless treasures on display in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle, visited by millions of people each year. The stone will only leave Scotland again for a coronation in Westminster Abbey. 

Info from Edinburgh Castle's website.


The stone will now be once again taken to Westminster Abbey in time for King Charles III coronation.