Local school children lined the entrance to the new gateway as villagers and local dignitaries welcomed the Duke, resplendent in a kilt made out of the Rothesay tartan and accompanied by HRH The Duchess of Rothesay in an outfit which featured the Lord of the Isles tartan.

They were met by Mrs Georgiana Osborne, the Lord Lieutenant of Angus and the Earl of Dalhousie before being presented to senior dignitaries including Ruth Leslie Melville, Provost of Angus.

Also present to welcome the Royal couple were Mary, the Dowager Countess of Strathmore and her son, the Earl of Strathmore.
The Royal visit proved one to remember for two local pupils from the nearby Glamis Primary School.

Claire Phillips (six) and Rory Cowan (12) presented a bouquet of spring flowers to the Duchess.

The Royal couple were then introduced to those who had been involved in the creation of the gates, including Mr Fred Stephen of the nearby Milton Studio at Glamis.

Funded by public donations from Scotland and abroad, the Queen Mother Memorial Gates are the result of a partnership between the Queen Mother's Memorial Fund for Scotland and Strathmore Estates.

The grand gate piers feature the eight names and coats of arms of the ancient Royal Burghs of Angus, in addition to the Bowes Lyon coat of arms and the Glamis crest.

Two rampant lions grace the regal pillars.

The imposing gate piers frame wrought iron gates, with the Queen Mother's coat of arms intricately detailed at the centre.

Mr David Bowes Lyon, chairman of the Trustees of the Queen Mother Memorial Fund, publicly thanked all those who had contibuted to the fund which had enabled two projects to be completed in Scotland - The Queen Mother Memorial gates and the Queen Mother Memorial in the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.

Prior to opening the gates, the Duke of Rothesay paid a moving tribute to his late grand-mother, who spent much of her childhood at Glamis, stating there was not a day when he did not miss her "vitality, her interest in the lives of others, her courage and determination, her perception and wisdom", as well as her "mischievous sense of humour."

He congratulated all those who had been involved in the creation of the gates which he was sure his late grandmother would have loved.

To a cheer from the crowd he added: "Nothing could possibly give me more pleasure than to declare these memorial gates open."

Following the opening the Duke and Duchess attended a reception in the grounds of the castle where they signed a commemorative book listing all those who had contributed to the Memorial Fund.

They also received a framed copy of the specially written Pipe March entitled "The Memorial Gates of Glamis - in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother" - composed by retired procurator fiscal Mr Sandy Ingram.

The march was played by Glamis Castle piper Stuart Robertson to welcome the Royal couple into the reception which was attended by invited guests.

Commenting on the Queen Mother Memorial gates, David Adams, general manager of Glamis Castle said: "We are delighted with this striking memorial - it is a true work of art, inspired, designed and created by Scots as an impressive monument to a remarkable lady - the Queen Mother.

"Not only will they give a warm welcome to our visitors from Scotland and across the globe and add to the sense of arrival at the castle, they have also created a new public space and focal point in the heart of the village."

For a full story and pictures of the Royal visit, see the Forfar Dispatch and Kirriemuir Herald on sale on Wednesday.