Sunshine and lots of laughs as Scots come out to celebrate jubilee

A parade through the streets of Eaglesham, Glasgow, to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubliee.

Thousands of people across Scotland celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee yesterday as the sun shone on street parties, processions and games.

Her Majesty had been intending to attend events further south including the Epsom Derby but instead watched on television from Windsor Castle after experiencing discomfort during Thursday’s Trooping the Colour celebration.

Hundreds of people flocked to Ballater, near Balmoral, the Queen’s home in Scotland, to mark the anniversary of her 70 years on the throne. Temperatures hit the 20C mark, as locals and tourists from around the world revelled in the Royal Deeside celebrations.

From the moment the Platinum Jubilee beacon was lit, to a 1950s-style afternoon tea with vintage cars and guests in period outfits, hobby horse derby, and glitzy stage show, crowds thronged the village.

David Cobban, who led the dedicated band of organisers, said: “The village was absolutely buzzing. We came together to celebrate a momentous time in the Queen’s life but also to celebrate the fact that for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19, we were finally able to come together as a community.”

On Thursday evening, a crowd of more than 500 turned out to kick off proceedings and enjoy the skirl of the pipes and the beat of the drums provided by Ballater and District Pipe Band.

Cobban said: “Everyone had a great time. We had spent quite some time planning this special Platinum Jubilee celebration. It was everything we hoped it would be and more.”

At Eaglesham Fair in East Renfrewshire a Right Royal Party got under way on the ancient village’s playing fields. The fair was enjoying a celebration of its own – 350 years since the first one took place in 1672 thanks to an Act of Parliament.

A monarch draped in ermine toured her kingdom and waved to the 5,000-strong crowd. This Queen, however, toured on the back of a tractor-pulled trailer, rather than a golden state carriage!

There was plenty of fancy dress on display. (Pic: Andrew Cawley).

Julie McKinna, secretary of the fair, said: “We have been planning this since last September and it’s just brilliant to see it come off.”

A few miles away in Newton Mearns neighbours had clubbed together to pay the local council £300 to rope off Lomond Drive for the afternoon to allow children to play street party games in safety.

Organiser James Campbell, 36, said: “We are not long in the street so this was a brilliant way to meet the neighbours and make new friends.”

Meanwhile, the local authority in the Borders paid residents to hold street parties and hog roasts. A grant of £800 was given to Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council to roll out the barrel for around 200 partygoers.

A re-enactment of the Queen’s Coronation took place in Kelso including a parade along the town’s Horsemarket.

Susannah Ayling, 12, took on the role of the Queen.

Liz Herd, one of the organisers, said: “The children taking part in the re-enactment were nervous at first but by the time they had done it and realised the reaction they were tremendously proud and will remember it all their lives.”

In Elgin, large screens were erected in Cooper Park to allow people to watch the Platinum Party at the Palace last night.

More than 70 corgis gathered on the lawn at Balmoral Castle in an event organised by the Corgi Society of Scotland and the UK Corgi Club.

Victoria Hall, Ballater. (Pic : Newsline Media)

The Queen has owned more than 30 Corgis and Dorgis – a cross between a corgi and a dachshund – during her reign, most of which have been descended from her first corgi, Susan, who was gifted to her on her 18th birthday in 1944.

Hilary Greensill, a member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association, said there was a fantastic atmosphere.

She said: “We have been to Balmoral before and the estate suggested we might like to come back and help celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.”