Greenock bunnet businessman recalls moment he raised a smile from Prince Philip

John Burleigh, who was invited to a Royal Garden Party in recognition of his charity work, told how the Duke of Edinburgh remarked on his flamboyant Tam O' Shanter — minutes after a security guard asked if he was hiding anything underneath it!

John — the founder of the Cumbrae to Largs charity swim, who is currently standing for election to the Scottish Parliament - says he fondly remembers the encounter.

He said: "We were all waiting in a line on the lawn for The Queen and Prince Philip to approach, and as Prince Philip walked past me, he said, 'I like your hat, did you make it yourself?'.

"I said, 'Yes, and I've made two for you and the Queen'.

GUY Clarke, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, greeted the Queen and Prince Philip as they stepped from the car to officially open the newly-built Inverclyde Council reception area within the municipal buildings.

"He replied, 'Really?!', then smiled and walked on'."

John — who attended the Garden Party at The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh with his wife Heather — gifted a pair of his handmade bunnets and matching scarves to Prince Philip and The Queen, and received a letter of thanks on behalf of the Royal couple.

He said: "Two ladies came up to me and asked me what I was doing with the hats and I said that I'd like to present them to Her Majesty and Prince Philip.

"They said it wasn't protocol for that to happen but they would take them and pass them on to them for me."

John added: "The funny thing is, just before The Queen and Prince Philip approached us, a plain clothes security guard asked to see under my bunnet, just in case I was hiding something — much to the amusement of everyone around us.

"I took it off and he frisked it and then said, 'You're alright'."

John has helped raise thousands of pounds for the Gillian's Saltire Appeal which was set up in memory of Largs mum Gillian Ward who died of cancer back in 2005.

The following year he and eight pals took the plunge and swam the 1.7-mile channel from Cumbrae to Largs and now more than 100 people take part in the annual event.

He says his only regret about his encounter with Prince Philip is not asking him if he wanted to wear his bunnet.

John said: "I wish I'd said, 'Do you you want to try it on?' because I really think he would have.

"It was a missed opportunity for me, but a wonderful day nonetheless and a memory I'll forever have."

John is currently proudly displaying the Red Ensign flag outside his Greenock home as a mark of respect to the Duke.

John Burleigh bunnets and Prince Philip story

He said: "I've had it up before to mark the 75 years since the end of The Second World War and also for the Queen's Jubilees.

"When Prince Philip and the Queen were in Greenock their car drove past it and I could see him pointing up at it.

"I'll keep it up until after the funeral and then take it down."