September 7th 1832

A Royal occasion at Taymouth Castle

There were men stationed on the rock of Dull waiting to signal to the crowds lining the approaches to Taymouth Castle that Queen Victoria and her party were on the road from Aberfeldy to Killin.

At Taymouth itself, the Marquis of Breadalbane with two hundred of the Breadalbane Highlanders, all in Campbell tartan, were drawn up in front of the Castle. Among his officers were Campbell of Glenfalloch, Campbell of Boreland, Campbell of Edinample, Campbell of Glenlyon, Campbell of Auch, Campbell of Cloichfoldich and Campbell of Melfort. Sir Neil Menzies of Weem was there too with his two sons and a further hundred men in Menzies tartan. Also present were a hundred ghillies clad in coats and kilts of shepherd tartan, a company of the 92nd Regiment, a detachment of the 6th Carabineers and the band of the 66th Regiment.

As the Queen approached the Castle, the batteries within the grounds fired a royal salute, the Breadalbane flags were lowered and the Royal Standard was rung up. Thousands lining the streets cheered the Queen as she passed through the floral arches erected at the entrance to the estate. The Queen herself described it in her journal. “It seemed as if a great chieftain in olden feudal times was receiving his sovereign. It was princely and romantic.” 

After dinner in the evening, the Queen and her party looked out through the windows to see a lighted display reading WELCOME-VICTORIA-ALBERT. It was believed that around 40,000 lamps were used for the illuminations, and on all the surrounding hilltops bonfires blazed in welcome. The Queen again; “I never saw anything so fairy-like. There were some pretty fireworks, and the whole ended by some Highlanders dancing reels, which they do to perfection, to the sound of the pipes, by torchlight in front of the house. It had a wild and very gay effect.” 

Next day it rained but Albert was not put out. “He had had excellent sport and the trophies of it were spread out before the house - nineteen roe deer, several hares and pheasants and three brace of grouse; there was also a capercaillie that had been wounded and which I saw afterwards, a magnificent large bird.” 

Lord Breadalbane and a large number of beaters helped to facilitate the slaughter.