Sadness at Queen Mother's childhood home

The Queen Mother spent 18 years at Glamis Castle

By Murray Cox BBC News Online Scotland

The weather was cold, damp, grey and overcast in Glamis, conditions which seemed to represent the feelings of many local people.

The death of the Queen Mother, who spent her childhood at Glamis Castle, had cast a pall across the small Angus community.

One local resident, Charlotte Kimmond, caught the mood when she said: "She was very much loved round here. She was such a lovely lady."

These were oft-repeated words in Glamis on Sunday.

A Glamis shop window tribute to the Queen Mother

As a youngster, the Queen Mother spent 18 years in Glamis.

But even after she left she maintained a strong connection with the place and visited many times.

That she kept returning to Glamis Castle, on the edge of Forfar and close to Dundee, won her many friends in the area and the sense of loss following her death was palpable.

Bunty Nicoll, who has lived in the area for many years and who met the Queen Mother on a number of occasions, said it was easy to see why the Royal was held in such high esteem.

She said: "She was a really lovely lady and she always had a smile on her face.

"The thing that I will remember most about her is the way that she spoke to people.

"She would always make you feel as if you were her equal, which of course, you weren't."

Flags over Glamis Castle were flown at half mast

"She was just a wonderful person and I know she loved coming back here."

At Glamis Castle a special service was held in the private chapel led by Canon Dendel French.

It was an opportunity for estate workers and other people who were particularly close to her to express their feelings.

The staff on the castle's estate, which extends to some 12,000 acres, will not speak publicly about the Queen Mother's death until after her funeral has taken place on 9 April.

Rev. John V. Gardner, of St Fergus Kirk, just next to the castle, is in no doubt that the grief being felt by local people is genuine.

He told BBC News Online Scotland: "It is clearly a major thing. It's not something that is going to be regarded by the people as insignificant.

"The people here are very proud of her and their connections to her."

Floral tributes were left at the gates of Glamis Castle

Rev. Gardner placed a photograph of the Queen Mother on the altar at the church before Sunday morning's service.

He began the service by saying: "Today, along with the whole country and much of the world, we will remember Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, especially because of the fact that we here are in a place that was so important to her in her early years."

As an Anglican, the Queen Mother never worshipped in the Church of Scotland, but prayers were still dedicated to her memory.

Rev. Gardner said: "She was a very significant force and person around here for a long time."

He believes the Queen Mother's memory will remain strong for a very long time.

Bunty Nicoll also believes that will be the case because so many people have their own favourite recollection of the Royal.

Prayers were said in this church for the Queen Mother

Mrs Nicoll said: "When it was her 80th birthday we decorated a big barn on the estate and she had a big party. It was a wonderful night.

"She made sure to speak to people at every table and she danced."

The Queen Mother last visited Glamis in 1999 and stayed at Glamis House in the grounds of the estate.

Dr Ian Duncan, the leader of the Glamis community council, said many people had been reminiscing about that visit recently, following the death of Princess Margaret.

"There is no doubt that people are shocked and stunned," he said.

After this saddest of days for Glamis, local people will be left with their memories of the Queen Mother whose life will forever be entwined with the area.