In order to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, we thought we'd share some interesting history about Her Majesty's great affection for Scotland, an affection which we share at Tartanista. When addressing Scotland's parliament in 2021, the Queen stated: "I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country. It is the people that make a place and there are few places where this is truer than Scotland."

Her Majesty spent her final days in Balmoral Castle in Scotland; a sanctuary for the Queen throughout her life, where she rode her horses and spent time with her children in the castle grounds, away from the formality of Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II's mother was of Scottish ancestry, as she was a member of the Bowes-Lyon family, descended from the Royal House of Scotland. Both of her parents also had the common ancestor of Robert II King of Scots. She gave her first public speech in Aberdeen in 1944, as she opened a home for the British Sailors' Society.

As Balmoral Castle is located so near Braemar, Her Majesty was associated with the Braemar Gathering from her first visit with her family in 1933. Once on the throne, she became Patron of the Society and during her 70 year reign, only missed attending the event on four occasions.

We would again like to extend our sincerest condolences to the Royal Family, and take some time to reflect on the spectacular legacy and vast contributions the Queen made to the United Kingdom during her lifetime.