
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Obviously there are many rules and traditions that members of the royal family commit to, and just because we don’t always know why something is important, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a perfectly decent reason. Like how you have to stop eating when the Queen stops, or how the dress code requires women not cross their legs, or how the royal family always takes an MP hostage when Parliament opens (it’s a thing)...You get the idea.
But perhaps the strangest tradition I have so far heard coming from the Queen is that there is an appointed Bagpiper to the Sovereign, who plays for the Queen outside her window for 15 minutes every morning while she’s staying at Balmoral Castle. Fifteen. Minutes. Of bagpipes. It probably makes sense, since Balmoral is the family's Scottish residence and bagpipes are even above kilts and haggis on the list of Very Scottish Things. But 15 minutes—starting at 9am, by the way—just feels like an awful lot of bagpipes to listen to every day. Then again, if it's good enough for the Queen...
The position of Bagpiper to the Sovereign was recently held by Pipe Major Scott Methven, according to the Express, who left in 2019 after four years in Her Majesty’s musical service. And not only did he play for her, but the Queen and the royal family even showed up for him in a moment of crisis. When Methven’s wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 terminal cancer, he told the BBC, the Queen “looked after” his children, who stayed at Balmoral while Methven attended to his wife. And later, shortly before his wife passed away, the Queen gave the entire family permission to stay at Windsor Castle all together. “And that’s memories,” Methven said. Check out the full video of his interview with BBC here.
Methven added, “People think what [they] will about the Royal Family or the Queen, but they pulled it out of the bag for me.”
That story is so touching it makes us want to reconsider our previous stance on bagpipes.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. We're known for our award-winning features, thoughtful essays and op-eds, deep commitment to sustainable fashion, and buzzy interviews and reviews. Reaching millions of women every month, MarieClaire.com is an internationally-recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages.
-
Refill That Empty Makeup Bag with Ulta's Fall Haul Event
Up to 40 percent off your favorites, this weekend only.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dies at 90
The liberal icon was the longest-serving woman in the Senate, known for championing gun control as well as protecting the environment and reproductive rights.
By Tanya Benedicto Klich
-
Power Pick: The Sneaker That We're Wearing With All Our Fall ’Fits
It’s ultra comfortable.
By Anneliese Henderson
-
George, Charlotte and Louis Will Be Laden With Gifts as Prince William Returns From New York
He was handed so many souvenirs for the little ones.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Makes Sure to "Treat George and Charlotte as Equals," Body Language Expert Says
I should hope so!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Isn't "A Workaholic Like His Father," Royal Expert Claims
He's got more of a work-life balance.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate's New "Signature" Gesture? The Stealthy "Bum Pat" to Prince William
Love this for her.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Pink Calls Gwen Stefani "The Coolest, Kindest" After Their Joint Concert Appearance
A mid '00s dream.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Harry Styles Stopped His Concert So a Pregnant Fan Could Go for a Pee and "Not Miss a Thing"
I'm DYING.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry Says His "Spirit Is Renewed" as He Attends the Warrior Games for Wounded Service Members in San Diego
The Games inspired his Invictus concept.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Miley Cyrus Heartbreakingly Admits That She Carried "Guilt and Shame" After Her 2013 Twerking Controversy
She's let those feelings go now.
By Iris Goldsztajn