Guess how much the Queen's alarm clock costs.

Mygrannycanfly,it was lovely to hear about your DiL I love military bands, they are so good for the morale of everyone as well as being there if needed as first responders, that I didnt know, what a fabulous thing to know in these very uncertain times.Thank you for telling us, I am sure not many people know about this part they can play.
I hope this will keep the people quiet who have negative comments on here.

Her majesty probably moved her bedroom to elsewhere in the palace years ago away from this tradition. I know I would. You can turn an alarm clock off but apart from opening the window and shouting' do you mind but some of us are trying to sleep' she is stuck with it.

I really don’t have a problem with this. I’ve known about the piper for years. I don’t think it’s an issue to get indignant about.

i knew about the piper and about rates of pay in the army but, sorry, can't get annoyed or excited about this.
i think it's a tradition and perhaps i'm a traditionalist and i don't see any reason it should be stopped.

Thanks for sharing, maybe I have spent a shelter life - but I didn't know that..

Whatever our Queen wants she's welcome too as far as I'm concerned. This is irrespective of cost or how much she has in the bank or kind. Long may she reign.

I'm with you all the way NanKate ☺

She’s entitled to what ever she wants at 91. I love our royal traditions and have no problem with the cost of it. Millions visit our country every year most will visit Buck house etc so they bring enough money in to justify it.

Oh dear those poor corgis!!!

I used to have an office in Primrose Hill and when I went in at the weekend, a military band used to go down the street practising. I always liked it.
I really cannot see the issue with this or with the amount that officers in the army get paid. It isn't that much nowadays.

I don’t begrudge the Queen anything. She is still working at 91 and she has kept her promise to serve this country faithfully all her life. If she wants a full military band to wake her up it is ok IMO. LLthe Q. ⏰

When my son was in the army, it varied how he paid for his food depending on where he was based, sometimes it was deducted from his salary and other times he had to pay daily. He was not very good at managing his money and often had no money left at the end of the month. Like a good mum I asked him what happened if he didn't have enough money to pay. I was a bit upset when he said the army called such squaddies "hungry soldiers" until he told me that meant he was allowed a free meal after every one else had eaten, usually the less popular choices. Little did the powers that be knew that my son was delighted -as a six foot seven streak of bacon, he had hollow legs and could polish off several portions without feeling full! The canteen staff loved him as there was no food left when he was a "hungry soldier"

They may not have been pipers, but they may well have been working as medics or soldiers with guns in their hands. answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120323032642AAUIjvJ

It would depend which regiments are deployed.

I'm not sure that they had pipers in Afghanistan. I know a veteran. I'll ask him...

Army bands are not anachronistic. Every bandsman is a fully trained soldier and many are army medics and have served in all theatres of war including Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

When operating as band members they provide music for key national and army events, help promote the image of our country at home and overseas and support the morale of serving members of our defence servicemen. They have a history going back to when trumpeters played tunes to rally soldiers on the battle field, indicate where they should rally and what actions they should be undertaking.

In 1944 D Day landings when Lord Lovat led the attack on Pegasus bridge , his piper was beside him and his playing and did much to raise the morale of the soldiers attacking the bridge and disconcert the Germans www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/piper-bill-millin-the-mad-piper-who-piped-the-allied-troops-ashore-on-d-day-2059271.html.

I am with those who have no objections to the Queen using a piper rather than an alarm clock because he remains a fully trained soldier who can be called to duty whenever he is required.

Doesn't Prince Charles have a personal harpist?
Yes, and I heard one of the Official Harpists (Catrin Finch) play in a concert. Wonderful.

Well, of course he has to have an Office Harpist - he is Prince of Wales!
The harp is an important national instrument in Wales, and although the role of Official Harpist was discontinued during the reign of Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales restored the position in 2000 in order to foster and encourage young musical talent in Wales and the UK and to raise the profile of the harp as an instrument.

I love regimental bands as well, I'm sure as others have said the piper fulfils other duties.
In the grand scheme of things I don't think this is unreasonable.

Charles has an official harpist , the first royal to appoint one since Victoria.

I always thought it was only at Balmoral that a piper played under the bedrooms of the R.F. in the early hours. Apparently and I say apparently, years ago, (obviously!) Princess Margaret was seen frequently leaving the castle early in the morning in order to avoid this serenade, clearly not a favourite with her!!

Doesn't Prince Charles have a personal harpist?

The mind boggles

I'm sure that if Victoria had taken a liking to Wales in the same way she did to Scotland there would even yet be a Welsh harpist serenading the royals in to dinner every day...

Perhaps queenie should have a Welsh Harpist play a lullaby ?

Some interesting posts especially mygrannycanfly.

They certainly want to make me run a mile! ?