A former Argyll and Sutherland Highlander has reflected on his interactions with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during his time working at Balmoral.
Eric McMullen from Felton, Northumberland, worked as a horseman and stalker to the Queen in the 70s and recalls a number of occasions when he spent time with the Queen whilst she holidayed in Scotland. And today he shared his memories, including one occasion when he joked with the Queen as he led her on horseback up the glen.
Eric, now 74, said: "I was asked to make my packsaddle into some form of stirrups because the Queen wished to ride my horse up the glen. Straightaway I did that and the Queen jumped on board and off we went.
"As we were going up the hill, the Queen asked 'is this horse Mick or Meg?' I said 'Ma'am, this horse is Mick'. 'Oh yes', she said, 'this horse reminds me of an African safari elephant'. So I looked at the horse and the horse looked at me and I looked back at the Queen and lo and behold she started to laugh."
Eric added: "It was at that point when I thought my God, this is not bad for a snotty-nosed kid who grew up on the farms of Northumberland and now I'm leading the horse up the hill with the Queen on its back."
When Eric returned to the bothy he was staying in on the Spittal of Glenmuick later that day he was invited for a cup of tea with his colleague John Robertson, who worked as a gillie - a person who attends to someone on a hunting expedition. But little did he know that when he arrived John's house he would be met with the Queen once again.
Eric said: "Lo and behold, who was sitting at the top of the table? No other than the Queen.
"It wasn't until that moment that my nerves went and John Robertson recognised that I was losing it a bit. So he took me outside into the fresh air and he gave me a dram of whiskey.
"He said go back in there Eric and just remember Her Majesty is human, just the same. This lady was so calm, cool and collected, it was unbelievable. But you have to remember that while she's at Balmoral she's on her holidays and it seemed to me that that was the only place that she could really relax.
"She was one of the team. She was the Colonel-in-chief of my regiment."
The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-chief of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regiment on her 21st birthday and was from her father George VI. Young soldiers from the regiment were given the honour of carrying the Queen's coffin when it arrived in Holyrood in Edinburgh on Sunday, as well as leading it along the Royal Mile to St Giles' Cathedral.
Today Eric spoke of his pride at seeing his regiment being given the honour. Eric said: "There was no prouder moment for me than seeing my ex battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders carrying the Queen's coffin down the Royal Mile."
"I'm so sorry to see her pass", Eric added.
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