THE KING'S GROUSE
T H E K I N G ' S G R O U S E
The King's 'Black Grouse' was a long time brewing. In October '22, not long after the Queen passed away, Lord Hodge suggested that if he were to be appointed as Lord High Commissioner for a second time, perhaps I might like to create a piece for the King that would partner the Queen's Pony … I was honoured and accepted, my order book might have been full but I was sure no one would mind HM jumping the queue. In November we got the go ahead. By January we had a long list of subjects, including suggestions from some senior members of HM's staff, mostly of Scottish wildlife. Among others we looked at arrangements with stags; highland cows; capercaillie; kingfishers; otter; squirrel [a particular royal favourite] and eventually, in March settled on a fly fisherman with his dog by the bank of a loch … a scene designed to evoke a haven of calm to a busy man. HM is a keen angler like his father.
With a deadline now set for the end of June I began the search for suitable timber , [the matching of grain to the subject isn't just a matter of luck] and came across a dull piece of dusty grey/buff elm in which I could just make out a burr and swirl that inspired me to return to an earlier choice … the Black Grouse, an endangered species that HM would be familiar with at Balmoral. Set against a background of Loch Muick it would be a reminder of his Highland home and a perfect pair to the Queen's garron in the nearby hills.
The late change of plan put the pressure on but the work was finished in good time for a June presentation … only to be delayed and delayed by other affairs of state. Finally, after all involved had successfully kept the Grouse under wraps for several months, they were presented to a delighted King at Windsor Castle in November, a full year after the project began.
I have learned that all gifts to HM are recorded and catalogued as part of 'The Royal Collection' … I am rather proud to have two entries. As to where they will be kept, who knows? I hear that the Queen's Pony has found its way from Holyrood to Windsor though and has been joined by the King's Grouse so I'll be watching HM's speech next month … to see if they're on the mantelpiece.
