Piper to the Sovereign
The Piper to the Sovereign (
Sovereign's
request.
History
The position was established in 1843 when
Dowager Duchess of Kent
:
We have heard nothing but bagpipes since we have been in the beautiful Highlands and I have become so fond of it that I mean to have a Piper, who can if you like it, pipe every night at Frogmore.[1]
The office has been held continuously since then (apart from a brief interruption during World War II) and the piper's main duty is to play at 9 a.m. for 15 minutes under the Sovereign's window, and on state occasions.[2]
The first Piper to the Sovereign was
piobaireachd. Every subsequent piper has been a serving non-commissioned officer and experienced pipe major from a Scottish regiment or an Irish Regiment. While the Piper is a member of the Royal Household, he retains his military rank for the duration of the secondment.[2]
- 1843–1854: Angus MacKay
- 1854–1891: PM William Ross, 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch)
- 1891–1910: PM James Campbell, 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch)
- 1910–1941: PM Henry Forsyth, Scots Guards
- 1941–1945: None
- 1945–1965: PM Alexander MacDonald, Scots Guards
- 1965–1973: PM Andrew Pitkeathly, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- 1973–1980: PM David Caird, Royal Highland Fusiliers
- 1980–1995: PM Brian MacRae, Gordon Highlanders
- 1995–1998: PM Gordon Webster, Scots Guards
- 1998–2003: PM Jim Motherwell, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- 2003–2006: PM Jim Stout, The Highlanders, 1st Battalion
- 2006–2008: PM Alastair Cuthbertson, 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots
- 2008–2012: PM Derek Potter RVM, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- 2012–2015: PM David Rodgers, Irish Guards
- 2015–2019: PM Scott Methven, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 2019–2021: PM Richard Grisdale, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 2021–present: PM Paul Burns, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
See also
References
- Philip Wilson Publishers. p. 20.
- ^ JSTOR 4522546