‘Like seeing an old friend’: Canadian pipers recall performing for Queen Elizabeth II
Global News
Two pipe band members from Ottawa recall the time they performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral, with their most recent visit taking place this past August.
A piper from Ottawa said she hoped Queen Elizabeth II remembered her as the cheeky and brave Canadian girl with red hair when they met a few times over the years in Scotland.
Bethany Bisaillon and her 700 pipe band members known as the Sons of Scotland have played at Balmoral Castle, the queen’s home in Scotland — the first time being in 2005. The second and final time was on Aug. 17 of this year, when 160 members went, and it all started with a letter in the mail.
“I had written to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to ask for permission to play there, and that’s her home in Edinburgh … and so I got permission in the mail. I was just delighted,” said Bisaillon.
“I never thought I would be in this position … it’s incredible … And that’s because I’m smart enough to ask. Always ask because you never, never know. You might get a yes. And wouldn’t that be wonderful?” she added.
Bisaillon said the queen met and talked with all of the people in the audience the first time they visited the castle and on Aug. 17 the queen welcomed them as well.
“She was great. She came to the back door and she saw me and she said, ‘Well, hello again.’ And she came down the stairs … and I curtsied and shook her hand, like seeing an old friend again,” said Bisaillon.
“She had her walking stick. She seemed fine. But I mean, if there was something more, certainly we didn’t know it. But she was very happy and she was wonderful and really pleased to see everybody. So that’s how we’re going to remember her,” she added.
Even after the performance, Bisaillon said she and her crew believed they’d be back next year, so she was shocked when she heard the news of the queen’s death.
