Queen watches Prince William try Scotland’s national drink Irn Bru

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The Queen was supported by her grandson Prince William as she made her first official visit north of the border since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh today.  

Her Majesty, 95, was introduced to Scotland’s national drink Irn Bru before being given a tour of AG Barr’s factory in Cumbernauld, where the iconic soft drink is manufactured. 

The 95-year-old monarch, who put on a stylish display a blue ensemble complete with pearl necklace and white gloves, was joined by the Duke of Cambridge – known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland – as she officially opened the factory’s new process facility.

The Queen, who will be joined by Princess Anne on Wednesday and Thursday during the four-day visit, is in Scotland for Royal Week where she will be taking part in engagements celebrating community, innovation and history.

The Queen, who has continued with her duties as head of state despite grieving for her late husband, will be staying at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, her official residence in Scotland. 

During the visit, the Duke of Cambridge quenched his thirst with a sip of Irn Bru and declared ‘you can taste the girders in it’ during a factory visit with the Queen. 

Irn Bru is popular among Scots and wider afield and the soft drink – known for its catchy slogans – has entered folklore north of the border as the perfect hangover cure.  

After touring the plant with the Queen, who has spent most of lockdown at Windsor Castle, the duke was offered a drink and was asked by commercial director Jonathan Kemp if he had tried Irn Bru when he wad a student at the University of St Andrews in Fife. 

‘Not St Andrews,’ he replied, but added that Irn Bru was often a part of lunches during his time in the armed forces, and after raising his glass and sipping he said it was ‘delicious’.

William was intrigued when Colin Reilly, upstream manager, brought over a small jar containing the clear essence of Irn Bru – with the recipe a secret only known to three people.

After taking a long sniff the duke said: ‘I’m trying to guess what’s in it but that’s quite hard, isn’t it?’

Mr Reilly said: ‘I’d love to tell you,’ and William smiled as he replied: ‘This is a closely guarded secret.’

Irn Bru was launched in 1901 and has become a key brand in Scotland, rivalling whisky as the country’s national tipple.

Holyrood Week, also known as Royal Week, was cancelled last year because of the pandemic.

This year, in line with Government guidelines, traditional events hosting thousands of people such as the garden party at Holyroodhouse will not take place.  

In a series of tweets on Sunday ahead of Her Majesty’s visit, Buckingham Palace emphasised the Queen’s long-standing links to Scotland. 

It said: ‘Tomorrow, The Queen will arrive in Scotland for Royal Week 2021, or ‘Holyrood Week’, takes place each Summer as The Queen and Members of the Royal Family undertake visits across Scotland celebrating Scottish culture, achievement and communities.

‘Her Majesty is connected to Scotland by ancestry and deeply held affection. As well as spending family Summers at Balmoral Castle, The Queen has visited almost every area of Scotland from the Outer Hebrides to Dumfries, meeting Scots from all walks of life.’ 

The visit comes just one month after Prince William and Kate Middleton embarked on a week-long tour of Scotland in May, which was dubbed a royal charm offensive to help persuade the country to resist the demands of nationalists for independence. 

The Queen returned to work with a beaming smile on April 27 in her first photographed engagement since the funeral of her beloved Prince Philip.

The monarch was seen via videolink from Windsor Castle while welcoming dignitaries to Buckingham Palace.

Appearing on screen dressed in a pale blue floral dress with pearls, she held a virtual audience to receive Her Excellency Ivita Burmistre, the Ambassador of Latvia, at Buckingham Palace. 

She also received Her Excellency Sara Affoue Amani, the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire, during the virtual meeting.

It came 10 days after the funeral of her husband Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99 earlier on 9 April.

Though it marked the first time the Queen was photographed working since the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, on April 17, it wasn’t the first time she had been back to work since his death.

The Queen returned to royal duties just four days after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.  

On that occasion she attended retirement ceremony for the former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel on Tuesday.

 

Then, in her second official engagement since Prince Philip’s death, she welcomed her new Lord Chamberlain to his post.

Two weeks of royal mourning in memory of the Queen’s husband of 73 years ended for the monarchy and their households on Friday April 23, meaning the Windsors were allowed to go back to work full-time.

The royal family gathered for a poignant final farewell to Philip on April 17 at a socially-distanced funeral service in St George’s Chapel, with the Queen pictured sat alone as she grieved for her consort.

The Queen turned 95 just 12 days after the duke died and used her birthday to release a message thanking well-wishers for their tribute to Philip.

She said she and her family were in a ‘period of great sadness’ but were comforted by words of praise for the duke.

‘We have been deeply touched and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life,’ she added.