Today we join the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our longest-serving monarch and former Patron of the International Festival.

Her Majesty The Queen became Patron of the International Festival in 1952 when she ascended the throne and returned to the International Festival a number of times in her years as Patron, last visiting in 1999 when she officially opened The Hub, which remains the home of the International Festival. In December 2016, at the end of Her Majesty's 90th year, patronage of the International Festival passed to The Earl of Forfar, Prince Edward.