Tourists and commuters alike might well have wondered why they were hearing bagpipes drifting across Green Park from the direction of Buckingham Palace at 9am every morning. This is the first duty of the day for The Queen's Piper, Jim Stout, who plays for fifteen minutes outside the state apartments on a daily basis when The Queen is in residence.
It was towards the end of 2001 that the Pipe Major first heard that he was to be recommended for the role. He became the Sovereign's Piper in September 2003 after a handover from the previous Piper and joined the Household on a posting from his regiment, The Highlanders. The Pipe Major is thrilled to hold the post:
"It is a unique opportunity and a great honour to be personally serving Her Majesty within her household, especially given some of the great names that have previously held the post. Angus MacKay, William Ross and James Campbell were the greats of their day; I'm not sure I could ever fill their shoes. It's also a great honour to be representing the Regiment in such a prestigious appointment, something I am aware of at all times."
The principal duty of the Sovereign's personal piper is to play every weekday at 9am for about fifteen minutes under The Queen's window when she is in residence at Buckingham Palace, Windsor, the Palace of Holyroodhouse or Balmoral Castle.
"I choose the music to be played on a daily basis. I play approximately 150 tunes without repetition. Occasionally The Queen suggests a tune to me which I will obviously try to include. I normally rehearse the pieces to be played prior to going out into the garden, at the same time tuning the pipes as there is no tuning outside.
Once outside, I start at 9'o'clock on the dot by my watch. I check my watch with the speaking clock every morning before going out. At 9 o'clock I strike up the pipes and step off with my first set which lasts approximately seven minutes. I then stop for a one minute break and repeat the process with a second set.
I enjoy playing at all the Royal Residences, at Buckingham Palace, Windsor, and at Holyroodhouse and Balmoral. At Balmoral I am also responsible for checking that all the clocks are right. I especially enjoy playing there and I like to think that the locals enjoy it too!"
The Pipe Major plays in all conditions. Through wind, rain, hail, sleet and snow, he is out in the garden meticulously pacing up and down for fifteen minutes blowing out his tunes.
It can, despite the best efforts of the British weather, sometimes even be very pleasant if summer's blue skies or spring's glorious sunshine light the dew on the lawns and flowerbeds. Whatever the weather, the pipes are played meaning the Pipe Major might be drenched with rain, having to contend with numb fingers or sweating through his heavy jacket.
"It doesn't matter about the elements. No matter what the conditions, the timing and process stays the same. Sometimes in more extreme weather the tuning of the pipes can go off but if you know your instrument you can silent tune during the minute break."
At Balmoral and Holyroodhouse he also pipes at The Queen's dinner table. The Sovereign's Piper is also responsible for the co-ordination, forming up, entry and exit of the twelve pipers who play around the table after State banquets.
The Pipers come from whichever Regiment has men available at the time of the event. Arrangements are co-ordinated through the Director of Army Bagpipe Music and the MOD section which organises military bands. Once a regiment has been identified, the Sovereign's Piper will ring the Pipe Major in question who will identify the music.
"Once I've received the choice of music, I vet it and pass it through the Master to The Queen for her approval. On the night we have a rehearsal around the table using just practice chanters (the practice instrument; the chanter which is attached to the bag is larger and is where the notes are played and the melody sounds) once The Queen has viewed the table.
When dinner is finished, on my signal the Pipe Major strikes the pipers up and they walk round the table and play their set which normally consists of a march, strathspey, reel and a second march. Once they've marched out, I present the Pipe Major and the Director of Music to The Queen and the Head of State in question."
The Pipe Major also acts as an Honorary Page of the Presence at events such as Audiences, Garden Parties, Investitures, State Functions and Receptions. It is his job to escort The Queen to the various audiences that she has throughout the day.
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Pipe Major Jim Stout plays in the gardens of Buckingham Palace during a rare sunny day! The Pipe Major is dressed in the ceremonial Royal Stewart tartan |
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The Pipe Major has three uniforms which he wears on specific occasions. The daily dress kilt is Hunting Stewart. This is worn in the mornings when the pipes are played along the north side of the palace, and during the day when carrying out the duties of a Page of the Presence. On ceremonial occasions, the Pipe Major wears the Royal Stewart tartan.
During The Queen's stay on her private estate in Scotland, the Balmoral Tartan is worn. The Royal Stewart and Balmoral Tartans are recognised as 'royal' tartans, The Royal Stewart is considered the tartan of the Royal House of Stewart (or Stuart).
It was King David I who appointed Walter Fitzalan as High Steward of the Royal Household in the 12th century, from which point the appointment became hereditary. The sixth High Steward married the daughter of Robert the Bruce. Their son, Robert, succeeded his grandfather as king and named the Royal House after the office.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are credited with having invented the Balmoral Tartan in about 1850. It was always intended that the tartan should be personal to the Royal Family and in 1936 King Edward VIII authorised the registration of the sett to prevent further commercial manufacture for the public.
Of course the Royal Family's relationship with tartan dress was not always so harmonious. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688 removed James II as king, his followers, then his son and grandson, all plotted a return to the throne. The last major rising occurred in 1745 when Jacobite supporters attempted to reclaim the throne for Bonnie Prince Charlie.
After his defeat at Culloden in 1746, rigorous action was taken by the Hanoverian regime to clear the Highlands and break the power of the clans. For some time, the wearing of kilts and the playing of pipes was forbidden. Successive monarchs moved to restore such ancient traditions. During a visit to Edinburgh in 1822, King George IV let it be known that he favoured the wearing of clan tartans by the Scots, while Queen Victoria was well known for her love of the Highlands and all things Scottish.
The appointment of an infanteer from The Highlanders as the Sovereign's Piper shows that the events following Culloden are no longer raw in the memory. As Pipe Major Stout continues to strike up his pipes every morning he echoes a long standing tradition stretching back to the reign of The Queen's great-great grandmother, when Queen Victoria first heard the beautiful strains of Highland music.
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