The family of a Scottish schoolgirl, who was crowned the winner of a prestigious gala, have completely transformed their home into a pink two-storey high fairytale castle - fit for any princess.
Aimee Gilchrist, 12, was elected to be crowned this year's Bo'Ness gala queen by fellow pupils at her Primary School in January, report the Daily Record.
She then had to take part in a procession around the town in her gown, in front of nearly 10,000 people.
For her special day, Aimee wore a stunning ivory dress and tiara, which is regarded as the highest honour in the town.
The Bo'ness Fair was first held during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, and is perhaps most famous for the dozens of themed "arches" that appear around the town to mark the event.
This year's main theme was "Beauty and the Beast", and the beautiful castle her family built was a part of the Fair.
Aimee's family completely transformed the front of their home into a fairytale castle 24 feet high and 32 feet wide - complete with a set of turrets.
And, she doesn't just get a crown for her achievement. She will also represent the town and carry out a range of civic duties throughout the year. Her responsibilities are likely to range from grand openings and handing out awards to visiting care homes and switching on the Christmas lights.
The schoolgirl, who celebrated her 12th birthday on Thursday said: "I was shocked to be elected, but it's the best thing ever.
"My sister Chloe and I were flower girls three years ago but I always wanted to be the Queen.
"When I found out, I asked if I could have a castle as big as our house. It's amazing. My friends love it."
Mum Morag, 42, a paediatric nurse, was born and raised in Bo'ness, and was a fairy in the 1986 Fair.
Dozens of other family members have held ceremonial roles over more than a century, from presentees and flower girls to ladies in waiting and Queen of the Fairies.
Aimee's great great grandfather, Archie McKay, was Yeoman of the Guard in the 1920 event.
And Morag revealed her youngest daughter may have been born for the role.
She said: "Aimee was born the day before the Bo'ness Fair (in 2010) and I was worried I was going to miss the crowning in the park for the first time.
"When we were discharged from the hospital we came straight to the Fair. We got back in time for the procession. That was Aimee's first day after she was born and exactly 12 years later she's being crowned herself.
"I'm very proud of Aimee because it's the biggest honour you can have. She'll be known as the Queen for the rest of her life."
Morag added: "When Aimee found out she was to be Queen, she said she wanted a Beauty and the Beast castle for her arch.
"My only stipulation was it was to be no bigger than the house. My poor dad George landed the job of building it, but he had help."
Dad Steven, 42, said: "Aimee's just taking it all in her stride."
Local man Alan Christie is a friend of Aimee’s grandfather and helped build the castle.
Speaking to the Record he explained that although Aimee’s castle is unique in its colour and detail he says it is ‘moderate’ for Bo’ness Fair.
He said: “Aimee’s castle has been months in planning.
"We started sketching it out in January but didn’t start building until March, when a local farmer let’s people in to use his barn.
“That offers plenty space to get things together and we worked on it from March right up until to the last couple of weeks.
“We used plywood for the walls, the stain glass windows were made up of a special plastic and the paint was just ordinary stuff from B&Q but we used a layer of PVA glue to waterproof it, that’s an old fair trick that has been getting used for years!
“We were happy with the finished product, it is striking with its details and colours but compared to previous entries I would say it is fairly moderate in height for Bo’ness Fair.”
Bo’ness Fair began as a celebration of coal miners’ freedom. Until the end of the 18th century, all Scottish miners were the property of the pits they worked in, as were their children. In 1779, an Act of Parliament released them.
