Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth unveils jubilee plaque

Sep 28, 2012, 11:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen has unveiled a plaque marking a Diamond Jubilee cairn close to her Balmoral Estate.

Residents of nearby Balalter, Aberdeenshire, collected 60 stones from surrounding hills to create the display and the monarch met with organisers Gordon Bruce and Alistair Cassie on a visit to the town.

Mr Bruce, a retired builder, said: 'We felt the royalty had done a lot for Ballater and we should do something for the Jubilee. We got kind permission to go on all the estates to collect the stones. The blacksmith and so on has done everything for nothing - the community spirit has been great.'

Hundreds turned out to see the queen and cheered as she walked down the town's main street, which had been decked with Union Jack bunting, before reaching the church and lifiting a cover of Balmoral tartan to unveil the plaque.

The plaque lists the 30 hills the stones - which are set within a bed of mixed heather and topped by a large stone inscribed with 'Queen Elizabeth II 1952 Jubilee 2012' - were sourced from.

Local school children Elise Smith, eight, and Jack O'Halloran, nine, won a competition to reveal the large main stone.

Jack said: 'It was very exciting to meet the queen. I hope she liked our crowns.'