# Piper to the Sovereign > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Piper_to_the_Sovereign > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Piper_to_the_Sovereign.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_to_the_Sovereign > Source revision: 1321592299 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Position in the British Royal Household The **Piper to the Sovereign** ([Scottish Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic_language): *Pìobaire an Uachdarain*), more commonly known as the **King's Piper** (*Pìobaire an Rìgh*) or **Queen's Piper** (*Pìobaire a' Bhanrighe*), is a position in the [British Royal Household](/source/Royal_Households_of_the_United_Kingdom) in which the holder of the office is responsible for playing the [bagpipes](/source/Great_Highland_Bagpipe) at the [Sovereign's](/source/British_monarchy) request. ## History The position was established in 1843 when [Queen Victoria](/source/Victoria_of_the_United_Kingdom) and [Prince Albert](/source/Prince_Albert_of_Saxe-Coburg_and_Gotha) visited [John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane](/source/John_Campbell%2C_2nd_Marquess_of_Breadalbane) at [Taymouth Castle](/source/Taymouth_Castle) a year earlier and discovered the Marquess had his own personal piper. The Queen was taken with the idea of having one for herself, writing to her mother, the [Dowager Duchess of Kent](/source/Victoria_of_Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld): We have heard nothing but bagpipes since we have been in the beautiful [Highlands](/source/Scottish_Highlands) and I have become so fond of it that I mean to have a Piper, who can if you like it, pipe every night at [Frogmore](/source/Frogmore).[1] The office has been held continuously since then (apart from a brief interruption during [World War II](/source/World_War_II)) and the piper's main duty is to play at 9 a.m. for 15 minutes under the Sovereign's window, and on state occasions.[2] The first Piper to the Sovereign was [Angus MacKay](/source/Angus_MacKay_(piper)), a noted collector and publisher of *[piobaireachd](/source/Piobaireachd)*. Every subsequent piper has been a serving [non-commissioned officer](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) and experienced [pipe major](/source/Pipe_major) (PM) from a [Scottish regiment](/source/Scottish_regiment) or an [Irish Regiment](/source/Irish_in_the_British_Armed_Forces#Regiments). While the Piper is a member of the Royal Household, he retains his military rank for the duration of the secondment.[2] - 1843–1854: Angus MacKay - 1854–1891: PM William Ross, 42nd Highlanders ([Black Watch](/source/Black_Watch)) - 1891–1910: PM James Campbell, 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch) - 1910–1941: PM Henry Forsyth, [Scots Guards](/source/Scots_Guards) - 1941–1945: *None* - 1945–1965: PM Alexander MacDonald, Scots Guards - 1965–1973: PM Andrew Pitkeathly, [Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders](/source/Argyll_and_Sutherland_Highlanders) - 1973–1980: PM David Caird, [Royal Highland Fusiliers](/source/Royal_Highland_Fusiliers) - 1980–1995: PM Brian MacRae, [Gordon Highlanders](/source/Gordon_Highlanders) - 1995–1998: PM Gordon Webster, Scots Guards - 1998–2003: PM Jim Motherwell, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - 2003–2006: PM Jim Stout, [The Highlanders, 1st Battalion](/source/Highlanders_(Seaforth%2C_Gordons_and_Camerons)) - 2006–2008: PM Alastair Cuthbertson, 1st Battalion, [Royal Scots](/source/Royal_Scots) - 2008–2012: PM Derek Potter RVM, [Royal Scots Dragoon Guards](/source/Royal_Scots_Dragoon_Guards) - 2012–2015: PM David Rodgers, [Irish Guards](/source/Irish_Guards) - 2015–2019: PM Scott Methven, [Royal Regiment of Scotland](/source/Royal_Regiment_of_Scotland) - 2019–2021: PM Richard Grisdale RVM, Royal Regiment of Scotland - 2021–2025: PM Paul Burns RVM, Royal Regiment of Scotland - 2025–Present: PM Andrew Reid, Royal Regiment of Scotland ## See also - [Piper to the Queen Mother](/source/Piper_to_the_Queen_Mother) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Millar, Delia (1985). *Queen Victoria's Life in the Scottish Highlands*. [Philip Wilson Publishers](/source/Philip_Wilson_Publishers). p. 20. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-history_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-history_2-1) McKay, Neville (1996), "A History of the Office of Piper to the Sovereign", *Folk Music Journal*, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 188–204, [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [4522546](https://www.jstor.org/stable/4522546) ## External links - [Official Royal posts, The Queen's Piper](https://web.archive.org/web/20141110225420/http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/OfficialRoyalposts/TheQueensPiper.aspx) v t e Royal Household in England, Scotland and the United Kingdom Great officers of the Household Lord Chamberlain of the Household Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Lord Steward of the Household Master of the Horse His Majesty's Representative at Ascot Master of the Buckhounds Clerk Marshal Treasurer of the Household Comptroller of the Household Other great officers of the Household (currently among Great Officers of State) Lord High Steward Lord Chancellor Purse Bearer Keeper of the Privy Seal Earl Marshal Knight Marshal Private Secretary's Office Private Secretary to the Sovereign Director for Security Liaison Royal Communications Privy Purse and Treasurer's Office Keeper of the Privy Purse Royal Almonry Lord Chamberlain's Office Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood Crown Equerry Gentleman of the Horse Master of the Revels Master of the Household's Department Master of the Household Master of the Household of Scotland Butler of Scotland Board of Green Cloth Clerk of the Green Cloth Cofferer of the Household Lords/ladies-in-waiting Mistress of the Robes Master of the Robes Groom of the Robes Groom in Waiting Page of Honour Maid of Honour Mother of the Maids Medical Household Physician to the King Serjeant Surgeon Apothecary to the Household Apothecary to the Household at Sandringham Apothecary to the Household at Windsor Coroner of the Queen's Household (1290-2013) Medical Officer to The King Ecclesiastical Household Clerk of the Closet Deputy Clerk of the Closet Dean of the Chapel Royal Gentleman of the Chapel Royal Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal Honorary Chaplain to the King Royal Archives and Royal Collection Keeper of the Royal Archives Royal Librarian Surveyor of the King's Pictures Surveyor of the King's Works of Art Master of the Jewel Office Treasurer of the Chamber Crown Jeweller Historiographer Royal England Scotland Wardrobe Keeper (or Treasurer) of the Wardrobe Comptroller of the Wardrobe Cofferer of the Wardrobe Keeper of the Great Wardrobe Privy chamber and bedchamber Groom of the Chamber Lord of the Bedchamber Gentleman of the Bedchamber First Lady of the Bedchamber Lady of the Bedchamber Woman of the Bedchamber Chamberer Groom of the Stool (1509–1901) Page of the Backstairs Bodyguards and guardians King's Guard Yeomen of the Guard Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard Sovereign's Bodyguard Gold Stick-in-Waiting Silver Stick-in-Waiting Yeomen Warders High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Animal keepers Master of the Staghounds (1738–1782) Master of the Hawks Master of the Harriers Keeper of the Queen's Swans Warden of the Swans Marker of the Swans Arts and entertainment Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom Master of the Ceremonies Master of the King's Music Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales Groom Porter Piper to the Sovereign Piper to the Queen Mother Serjeant Painter Principal Painter in Ordinary Painter and Limner Flower Painter in Ordinary Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland Grand Carver of England Master Carver Pantler of Scotland Other positions Defence Services Secretary Astronomer Royal Astronomer Royal for Scotland Geographer Royal Justiciar (1102–1261) Knight Marischal Personal aide-de-camp Armour-Bearer and Squire of His Majesty's Body King's Flag Sergeant Field Officer in Brigade Waiting Warden of the Mint (1216–1829) Gentleman Usher Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State His Majesty's Botanist King's Bargemaster Funeral directors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Piper to the Sovereign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_to_the_Sovereign) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_to_the_Sovereign?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.