The image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is an iconic one recognised around the world.
And Perthshire schoolgirl Pippa Gray has helped honour that legacy after her sketch of the late monarch gained international fame.
Having drawn a picture of the Queen for her Platinum Jubilee, Pippa’s family decided to drive nearly 60 miles to Balmoral from Inchture on Thursday evening to pay their respects just hours after Buckingham Palace announced her passing.
Above a row of flowers, 10-year-old Pippa placed her portrait next to their bouquet of yellow roses at the gates of the Royal estate where the world’s media also began to gather.
Pippa’s sketch contained a touching message in tribute that read: “Thank you Queen Elizabeth II for your service to our nation”.
The primary seven pupil at Tayview Primary School in Dundee said she and her family decided to make the journey after being left “shocked” upon hearing of the Queen’s passing.
“We were talking about it and then mum and dad said we should go up to Balmoral [to pay our respects] - I thought they were joking,” she explained.
“But we left at about 10 o’clock.
“We couldn’t find a spot at first to put the picture but then we wanted to stick it to the fence.”
The portrait was covered in plastic film to stop the paper getting wet in the Aberdeenshire rain.
“We ended up putting the picture on top of the other flowers and then putting the yellow roses beside it,” Pippa added.
Proud mum Emma said: “We wanted to be there before midnight because it was still the same day she died and we knew that both the king and queen were both there.
“We had to park a little bit away and then walked past all the press cars. At that time there were not that many flowers. It was very quiet and peaceful.”
The family returned home not long after 1am with Emma saying the journey “was worth it” to pay tribute to Her Majesty.
Come the following morning Pippa was quickly made aware that her portrait had garnered overnight fame.
“I was told in the morning that someone had put the drawing on Twitter,” she said.
“When I got back from school my granny said ‘your drawing made a headline’ - Royal sketch tribute at Balmoral Castle - and there was a picture of it.
“Then mum showed me some videos of it and we could see it in the background behind the TV presenters.”
As well as social media the portrait became prominent on international TV coverage from the BBC, Sky News, GMB and was given attention on BBC Radio 2.
Reporters were seen highlighting the portrait and reading out her heartfelt message, with international news agencies Reuters and the Press Association also taking pictures of it.
In response to the publicity Pippa said: “It is quite exciting and surprising.
“It made me feel happy that people saw it. It feels nice that people liked my drawing.
“I think the Queen was amazing and one of the best people.
“She was an inspiration to everyone.”
