PRINCESS Alexandra made a six-hour-long visit to Glasgow on January 31, 1963, and her itinerary included a tour of the Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art in Renfrew Street. She was captivated by what she saw , and at one point her attention was caught by a group of little wooden Highlanders, made by a former student, Richard Foley. Douglas Bliss, the school’s Director, offered to give her one but she politely declined and instead took two of the figures, telling Mr Bliss to “be sure to send me the bill.”Each of the figures cost 26 shillings and sixpence in the shops.
There was a throng of people outside, waiting to greet her as she left. Police officers on duty, concerned that the smallest children in the crowd would be unable to see her, quickly corralled together a group of under-eight-year-olds to form an unofficial farewell committee for the Princess, which brought a smile to her face.
The Princess’s day in Glasgow had begun with a visit to Stobhill Hospital (above), where she opened the Edward Mother and Child Unit and the Premature Baby Unit. An audience of doctors, nurses and members of the Board of Management applauded her as she spoke of her affection for Scotland, and added: “I am indeed fortunate that I am to marry a Scotsman.” (Three months later, on April 24, she married Angus Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey, and they spent their honeymoon in Scotland).
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