Late last week when the Queen attended the Royal Highland Show she was given a surprise gift of a year’s supply of ice-cream.

As she was touring the showground, Maitland Mackie, the chairman of Mackie’s of Scotland, presented her with a book of vouchers for free ice cream, and said, jokingly, that he was concerned about the state of royal finances.

The Aberdeenshire-based ice-cream company was established by Mackie 22 years ago.

Mackie’s of Scotland was one of many firms exhibiting at the four-day-long show at Ingliston, not far from Edinburgh.

After the Queen’s visit, Mackie said: “We gave the Queen a whole year’s supply of ice-cream because we’re a bit worried about the economics of the royal household,” adding: “She’s a lovely lady.”

This was the Queen’s first official visit to the Royal Highland Show in 25 years. She reportedly laughed when he presented the free vouchers.

The Queen is the patron of the Royal Highlands and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), which organizes the show.

This year, the RHASS celebrates its 225th anniversary, and organisers were pleased that the Queen and the Princess Royal attended the event.

Thanks to news.scotsman.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.royalhighlandshow.org