QUEEN Elizabeth stopped George Osborne from closing the British Army’s bagpipe school.
The former Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer was speaking on the Political Currency podcast, which he co-hosts with his former Labour counterpart – Ed Balls.
Osborne claimed it was the only time the late Queen interfered in politics during his tenure.
He said: “I was at a state dinner and she came up to me and she said 'the Chief of the Defence Staff is unable to answer my question. He told me to go speak to the Defence Secretary. I went to see the Defence Secretary and he told me to come and speak to you. So I’m asking you – you’re not going to close the Highland Bagpipe School?’"
How Queen Elizabeth stopped @George_Osborne from making cuts to the Highland bagpipe school 🏴👸🏼
— Political Currency (@polcurrency) November 5, 2023
🎧 Listen to Political Currency: https://t.co/TeZdSYV87C pic.twitter.com/RnI4M9gHpC
READ MORE: Home Office says revealing cost of royal family protection could 'aid attacks'
The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, founded in 1920, is a British Army training establishment located near Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, that provides instruction on Scottish pipe band music to military pipers and drummers.
Osborne then responded: “Of course not, Your Majesty”. He then said he investigated and found out that cuts were indeed being made to the school and ordered them to be reversed.
He went on: “I immediately sent a message back to the palace that she could be reassured that the pipers of the British Army would remain well trained”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel