Royal Visit

of Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinbrugh

to Edinburgh

Children with flags

Around 1953

Thank you to Jim Cairns for providing this photograph, taken by his dad, David Cairns. 

Jim tells me that he believes that this photograph of the flag-waving children was probably taken during the visit to Edinburgh of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh following the Queen's Coronation in 1953

Acknowledgement:  Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife;  October 14, 2008

Question

Does anybody recognise the location?  It looks to me as if the building in the background might be the south side of the Head Office of Bank of Scotland (now, but not for much longer, HBoS), at the top of the Mound.

Peter Stubbs:  October 19, 2008

Reply

1.

Eric Gold

East End, London

Thank you to Eric Gold who replied:

High Street

"I read with interest and saw the lovely photo of the royal visit in 1953. I think that the location is in the High Street near HBOS,

I can remember this event very clearly as we were lined up on both sides of the Royal Mile, from St Anne’s school, when the Coronation took place, and later came the Royal Visit."

Eric Gold, East End, London:  October 20, 2008

 Reply

2.

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson who replied:

Lothian Region Office

"It looks like the Lothian Region Office on the corner of George IV Bridge and the High Street, with the children actually standing in George IV bridge just to the left of the main entrance."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 20, 2008

 Reply

3.

Terry Cox

Fairmilehead, Edinburgh

Thank you to Terry Cox who replied:

Lothian Region Office

"I would agree with Bob Henderson about the location being at the end of George IV Bridge.

Since I work in the Supreme Court, I walk past the building every day, and it looks remarkably familiar.

The building was originally the Midlothian County Building (I think).  It was recently refurbished and now serves as the Registrar for weddings, etc, replacing the one in India Buildings at the top of Victoria Street."

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  October 20, 2008

 Reply

4.

Jim Cairns

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

It was Jim Cairns who sent the photograph above.  Thank you to Jim sending further details about the photo.

Jim wrote:

Lothian Region Office

"Bob Henderson is correct. The picture was taken in George IV Bridge, outside what was Midlothian County Council offices.

It features my sister and me, plus four members of the Kemp family.  Their father was the minister at St Columba's by the Castle.  They emigrated to the States in the late-1950s."

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland:  October 20, 2008

Edinburgh Recollections