The Olympic Torch has visited a historical palace as it continues on its symbolic journey around the UK.
The flame was carried to Scone Palace near Perth, once the crowning place of Scottish kings such as Robert the Bruce and Charles II, as more than 100 torchbearers took the flame on its 133-mile journey from Aberdeen to Dundee.
The torch was brought into the grounds of Scone Palace, the family home of the Earl of Mansfield and a popular visitor attraction, by 16-year-old Louise Fox, a keen swimmer and water polo player from Dundee, to the sound of bagpipes and a cheering crowd.
Louise said: "I've been greeted by at least 1000 people just all flashing their cameras and cheering me on. It was amazing. I don't think there's a word to use to describe how amazing it was. On the bus I was really nervous about it because I was like: What if I trip? What if I drop it? What if it goes out? But then when you're running with it, nothing was going through my head. I was just focusing on getting to the end and seeing everyone."
The 25th day of the Olympic Torch Relay got under way yesterday morning at BP's North Sea headquarters in Dyce, Aberdeen where an outdoor reception was held with live music.
Lindsay Rennie, 46, from Arbroath, carried the flame from the stage and along Wellheads Drive. He set off at 7.21am and hundreds of people lined up to cheer him on.
Mr Rennie, a well services supervisor at BP North Sea, has swum across the River Tay on three occasions, raising more than £7000 for charity.
On yesterday's leg of the journey the relay went through Stonehaven, Marykirk, Hillside, Montrose, Brechin, Forfar, Meigle, Coupar Angus, Wood-side, Burrelton and Balbeggie. It also visited Perth, Abernethy, Newburgh, Cupar, Dairsie, Guardbridge and Leuchars.
It made a quick stop at the statue of Desperate Dan in Dundee – erected to celebrate The Dandy comic character – where it was carried by another 16-year-old swimmer, Mark Szaranek from Fife.
Mark was picked to represent Great Britain at the 2011 European Olympic Youth Games and hopes one day to represent Team GB at the Olympics proper.
As the flame moved from Grampian into Tayside, both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils said tens of thousands of people lined the streets over the past two days to see the torch, with around 12,000 turning out in the small town of Stonehaven.
Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Colin Mackenzie said: "It is fantastic to see the arrival of the Olympic flame has been enjoyed by so many people. The Olympic torch has been welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm by the people of Grampian. It is thanks to their patience and forward planning that this leg of the relay can be hailed as a success."
The Olympic convoy arrived at Baxter Park in Dundee last night, where a celebration was held with live music from Scottish singer Emeli Sande and entertainment by local acts staged by the council.
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