As far as birthday presents for his fiancee go, Liverpudlian Derek Low raised a weekend standard that will be tough to top.
The IT consultant was already in the good books for treating Swedish sweetheart Christel Dahl to an early Scottish spring break but the icing on the Angus cake came on Saturday morning when they were honoured with flag-hoisting duties at Glamis Castle as the landmark’s first visitors of the 2010 tourist season.
Keen to make the most of a short stay in the area from their home in Stockholm, they had arrived early and were stunned to be personally welcomed by the Earl of Strathmore when the gates opened at 10am.
He presented them with a Glamis Castle book before they climbed the 143 steps behind the castle’s world-famous facade to the castle roof and raised the family standard of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
Staff member Libby Reynolds talked the guests through the stunning panoramic view and Derek said the whole experience had made it a trip to remember.
“Christel’s birthday was in January so we booked to come over and stay at the Carnoustie golf hotel,” he said. “We had no plans and were talking to the receptionist at the hotel about what we might be able to do.
“They suggested Glamis Castle so we thought we would come here before going to Dundee to settle down and watch the rugby, but we had no idea we would be the first visitors. It’s a great honour.”
Christel added, “It is a beautiful castle. I’m amazed it has belonged to the same family for 600 years.”
More foreign legions look set to visit the castle in the months ahead. “The bookings so far are very promising,” said Lord Strathmore.