Kinneil’s surprise Royal appointment during King’s visit to Scotland

Unison Kinneil Band had the surprise honour of playing for His Majesty King Charles III when he visited Bo’ness on Monday to view Kinneil House and plant a tree to commemorate the centenary of the estate becoming a public park.

The King also met the town’s newly-crowned Fair Queen, Lexi Scotland, and with charity representatives and beneficiaries including Cycling Without Age and Sustainable Thinking Scotland.  

The band had been asked to play at a VIP event by Falkirk Council but had no idea what the occasion was until it was divulged on 30 June. Kinneil members are no strangers to a good party, having celebrated both the Platinum Jubilee and King Charles’s Coronation, so they were thrilled when they found out they would also be presented to the King.

The band chose a selection of Scottish marches to play at the event.

Trombone player and committee member Fiona Drury had the honour of being presented to the King (pictured below) to explain the history of the band and its passion towards youth development.  Many Kinneil Youth Band players were also at the event. 

Fiona was then delighted to be able to present every member of the band to His Majesty – a day they will surely never forget.

She commented: “We’ve had a busy June playing at various gala days and, of course, our beloved Bo’ness Fair Day celebrations. Meeting the King was just the perfect way to end our banding season.”