Doug Fee was to represent Canadian Aberdeen Angus breeders at the Queen
Mother’s funeral in London, England, on April 9.
The chief executive officer of the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association
received the invitation by telephone April 1.
“I feel greatly honoured to be invited to represent the Angus breeders
there,” said Fee from his office in Calgary on April 3 before leaving
for London.
Fee was part of a delegation that presented the Queen Mother with an
Angus heifer in honour of her 100th birthday. The group also dined with
her at her Scottish castle.
The bred animal was donated by Leo Brietzke of Three Hills, Alta., and
has since had a calf.
The Queen Mother, who died March 30 at 101, was a patron of the
Aberdeen Angus society since 1937 and had maintained her own herd for
many years, Fee said.
She called the heifer the best gift she had received because it could
remain a permanent part of her herd and continue to give for years to
come, he said.
“I feel my (funeral) invitation reflects that she did indeed mean that.”