The Queen has given her royal seal of approval to a special Glamis Castle exhibition in an unforgettable chance meeting for a key member of the Angus landmark’s staff team.
On the day of Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton, the castle launched its own historic weddings exhibition which has been drawing in the crowds since April 29.
The star item on display is the Queen Mother’s wedding dress, which was loaned to Glamis for its first ever showing in Scotland, to be reunited with another gown from the 1923 ceremony worn by a bridesmaid who later married into the Bowes Lyon family.
Glamis marketing manager Libby Reynolds had been over the moon to secure the prestigious garments for the event, and was even more delighted when her contact with the Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly, led to the offer of another unique item the dress worn by Her Majesty at the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999.
But even Libby could not have guessed that she would have the opportunity to personally thank the Queen for her kindness when she went to pick the dress up from Balmoral.
“After we were told we would be receiving the Queen’s dress for the exhibition, her dresser contacted us to say that she was going up to Balmoral and could bring it with her if we were able to collect it,” said Libby.
“My 15-year-old daughter Jamie had a day off school so we went up together and had a lovely time meeting Angela Kelly.
“When we were sitting down with her having a cup of coffee I asked about the Queen and the busy time she had had with recent visits to Ireland and from President Obama.
“I didn’t for one second think she would actually be at Balmoral, but was told she was, and when we were driving with Angela to the castle shop we saw Her Majesty,” added Libby.
“We stopped and as I came round from parking the car the Queen was waiting for us to have a chat.
“I was thrilled to bits that my daughter and I were introduced to her and delighted that the Queen was so interested in what we were doing at Glamis,” she added.