Crest of the Day: 1st Baron Bilsland of Kinrara

Alexander Steven Bilsland, 1st Baron Bilsland, KT, MC (1892 –1970)

Crest: a bull's head erased Sable horned Gules.

20th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament

The Officers of Arms, led by the Lord Lyon, and the Royal Company of Archers, led by their Captain General, the Duke of Buccleuch, were in attendance today on HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Rothesay, at the Scottish Parliament which was celebrating its 20th anniversary.

The day started with the Officers and Archers marching from the Palace of Holyroodhouse up to Queensberry House entrance to the Scottish Parliament building. Meanwhile, the Duke of Hamilton who, as Lord of Abernethy is the hereditary bearer of the Crown of Scotland, was bringing the Crown down in a specially-adapted car from Edinburgh Castle, with a guard of honour and military band. On arrival at Queensberry House, the senior herald, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw QC, Rothesay, moved forward and lifted the crown out before passing it back to the Duke of Hamilton who was now out of the car, and the procession of Officers of Arms and Archers then led the crown through Queensberry House and into the Parliament Building to await the arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Rothesay.


Here is Sir Crispin doing the same duty in 1999 and today:

While the procession waited in a Committee Room with the Crown of Scotland, an  object of astonishing power when experienced in such close circumstances, some photographs were taken.

This year there were two simultaneous processions: the Crown Procession, with the Officers of Arms and Royal Company of Archers coming down the stairs into the chamber while HM and HRH entered with the Presiding Officer through the door on the ground floor. All took place to a Fanfare composed and conducted by John Wallace CBE, former Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and played by the Conservatoire's brass ensemble. John Wallace was the famous trumpeter who played "Let the Bright Seraphim" with Kiri Te Kanawa at the Duke of Rothesay's first marriage in 1981.

The full event can be viewed HERE.

Correction, there is more in this video of the Procession from the Castle accompanying the Crown of Scotland. This is a magnificent spectacle. There is a shorter one HERE.

Crest of the Day: 5th Earl of Rosebery

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is A demi-lion rampant Gules holding  a cinquefoil slipped Or, the crest of Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery KG, KT, PC, FRS, FBA (1847 – 1929)

Crest of the Day: 1st Baron Mathers of Newtown St Boswells

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the annulet Azure charged with eight mullets Or, and within the same two goose quills  saltireways Azure quilled Or of George Mathers, 1st Baron Mathers of Newtown St Boswells KT, PC, DL. (1886 – 1965)

From Our Files - One Hundred Years Ago Today

These rather splendid arms were recorded on June 28th 1919 by Major Charles John Wallace OBE, DSO, MC.

Quarterly: first grandquarter, Gules a lion rampant Argent withing a bordure compony of the Last and Azure (for Wallace of Ellerslie); second grandquarter,quarterlyl first and fourth Gules, a lion rampant Argent; second and third Gules a fess chequy Argent and Azure (for Wallace of Craigie); third grandquarter quarterly First and Fourth Argent on a chief Gules three lions heads erased of the First; second and third Azure a crescent Or between three cross crosslets Argent (for Ritchie of Craigton); fourth grandquarter, Gyronny of eight Or and Sable, on a chief Azure a galley sails furled, oars in action, flags and pennon flying, between two mullets of the First (for Campbell of Cammo); in the centre of the grandquarters a mullet Or for difference.

Crests: on the dexter, a dexter hand vambraced brandishing a sword all Proper (for wallace of Ellerslie) and on the sinister an ostrich head and neck couped holding a horseshoe in his beak all Proper.  

Petition for Chief of Clan Pringle

Today the Lord Lyon is hearing the petition of Sir Murray Pringle of Stichill Bt claiming the chiefship of the Clan Pringle in the court rooms at George House in Edinburgh. Sir Murray is represented by Rothesay Herald presenting his case.

Crest of the Day: Sir Charles Maclean

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the tower embattled Argent of Sir Charles Hector Fitzroy Maclean of Duart and Morvern KT (later Baron Maclean)  (1916-1990).

Crest of the Day: 13th Earl of Leven

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the demi-chevalier in complete armour with visor raised holding in his dexter hand a dagger point downwards all proper hilted and pommelled Or of Archibald Alexander Leslie-Melville, 13th Earl of Leven and 12th Earl of Melville (1890-1947).

New Grant of Arms

The Lord Lyon has granted arms to Ryan Patrick Pannell.

The blazon is: Azure on a chevron Or between two fleurs-de-lys of the Second a Huguenot cross of the First and in base a trident entwined with a Chinese sea dragon all of the Second. Crest: a shark's head jaws open Proper.

The artist is David Allan.

Lyon in Sutherland

The Lord Lyon and Honorary Vexillologist, Philip Tibbetts,  were honoured to be invited to the Veterans Dinner in Sutherland. Lord Lyon presented badges to veterans and handed over the Letters Patent for the county's flag to Lord Lieutenant Dr Monica Main..

Here is the flag itself from the Letters Patent, painted by Yvonne Holden, Herald Painter and Dingwall Pursuivant.

New Grant of Arms

The Lord Lyon has granted arms to Alan Hay.

The blazon is: "Argent between three escutcheons Gules a chevron Sable charged of a mullet between two mascles of the field." Crest: "A male Scottish crossbill grasping in one claw a sprig of mistletoe Proper."

The artist is Annette Reed.

Governor of Edinburgh Castle

A warm welcome to Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE KStJ DL VR who takes over today as Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

Crest of the Day: Lady Marion Fraser LT

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the  demi-female richly attired holding in her dexter hand at the shoulder a thistle slipped and leaved all Proper and in her sinister hand at the hip a fraise Argent of Lady Marion Fraser (née Forbes) LT (1932 – 2016), still the only non-Royal lady to be created a member of the Order of the Thistle.

Crest of the Day: 16th Lord Elphinstone

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is that of a lady from the middle, well-attired holding a tower Argent in her dexter hand a laurel branch Proper in her sinister of Sidney Herbert Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone and 2nd Baron Elphinstone  (1869 –1955).

Crest of the Day: 1st Duke of Fife

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the  knight on horseback bearing the caparison and shield of the Duke’s arms of Alexander William George Duff, 1st Duke of Fife, KG, KT, GCVO, VD, PC (1849–1912)

Festival of St John

The Annual Festival of St John of the Priory of Scotland of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, which dates from the 19th century, took place in Inverness on Friday 21st June 2019.

The Lord Lyon was on duty as Chancellor of the Priory of Scotland:

In attendance were Unicorn, Carrick and Falkland Pursuivants.

Crest of the Day: Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is that  Issuant from a naval crown Vert a unicorn's head Argent armed maned and tufted Or langued Gules of Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, KT, GCB, OM, DSO (1883 –1963).

Crest of the Day: 2nd Baron Clydesmuir

Crest of the Day from the Biggar Museum Exhibition: Ronald John Bilsland Colville,
2nd Baron Clydesmuir (1917-1996)
Crest:  A hind’s head erased Proper.

Crest of the Day: Cameron of Lochiel.

Crest of the Day from the Biggar Museum Exhibition: Sir Donald Walter Cameron of Lochiel KT, CMG (1876 – 1951) :
Crest: A sheaf of five arrows Proper points upwards and banded Gules.

(link: http://www.biggarmuseumtrust.co.uk/whats-on/)

Barra & Vatersay Community Flag

The Lord Lyon has granted a Community Flag to the Isles of Barra and Vatersay.

Meldrum Bourtie & Daviot Community Council

The Lord Lyon has granted arms to the Meldrum Bourtie & Daviot Community Council. The artist is David Allan.

Crest of the Day: Lord Balfour of Burleigh

Among the Crests of the Order of the Thistle on display at Biggar Museum until August 10th, is the mermaid sitting on a rock holding in her dexter hand an otter’s head erased and in her sinister hand a swan’s head erased all Proper of Alexander Hugh Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC, JP, DL (1849 – 1921)