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Scottish farmers form tractor guard of honour for the Queen

Philip Case 13 September 2022
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© ITV© ITV

Scottish farmers formed a guard of honour with their tractors in the Aberdeenshire countryside to pay homage to the Queen.

Dozens of tractors lined the route of the Queen’s funeral cortege between Banchory and Aberdeen city, an area the monarch loved very much.

The tribute was organised by Rodney Blackhall, a farmer from Banchory, who felt motivated to show his respects to the Queen.

See also: Farmers share their cherished memories of meeting the Queen

Mr Blackhall came up with the idea on Saturday afternoon (10 September) and within a few hours had attracted the support of more than 40 farmers and their families in the Deeside farming community.

He said: “I was thinking on Saturday about how farmers can collectively show what the Queen meant to us and show our respect for the tremendous dedication to her duties throughout her life.

“We came up with the idea of getting together with our tractors to create a gathering. The Royal family have been huge supporters of agriculture, putting stock to local shows, including the Banchory Show.

“The Queen was also patron of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society until 2010, and Princess Anne is the new patron.”

Mr Blackhall described the atmosphere during the procession as “poignant and surreal”.

“Everybody went quiet as the procession came past. There was a silence throughout everybody who was standing there,” he added. 

“We realised that we were part of a special moment. You have one chance to pay your respects and that is what we did. The procession happened to be passing through our area. We just did what a lot of farmers would have done if it had been in their area.”

‘Remarkable display of respect’ 

NFU Scotland praised farmers in the North East for their “remarkable display of respect and affection for Her Majesty”.

During the procession, thousands of people lined the street to pay their final respects to the late Queen, and many were seen throwing flowers at the hearse.

An aerial video of the cortege making its way through Aberdeenshire’s rural heartland has been viewed more than 2.4m times.

The Queen’s coffin was taken from Balmoral by road on Sunday 11 September to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will rest until the afternoon of Monday 12 September.

The coffin will then be taken to Edinburgh, where the Queen will lie at rest for 24 hours at St Giles’ Cathedral.

On Tuesday 13 September, the Queen’s coffin will be flown from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt and then taken to London, where it will lie in state until her funeral on Monday 19 September, allowing members of the public to pay their respects.

Tributes have poured in from the farming industry to Queen Elizabeth II, who died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on Thursday 8 September.

NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said many farmers, crofters and landowners in Scotland would fondly remember the Queen’s long-standing enthusiasm and support for farming, rural life and the countryside, as well as her patronage of and visits to the Royal Highland Show. 

“Her service to farming and rural communities up and down the country will not be forgotten,” Mr Kennedy added.

King Charles III, the Queen’s eldest son, has now ascended the throne and he will go on a tour of the UK this week ahead of the state funeral.

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