THE eyes of the world were on Ballingry's Allan Campbell today (Monday) as he led the pipe band at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

And the British Army's senior drum major has especially close ties with the royal family, having met her late Majesty on 30 different occasions.

The proud 34-year-old has been in the army for 17 years, starting his journey at Lochgelly High, and is now based at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh where he has taught "hundreds" of pupils on side drum and bugle.

"My phone has never stopped," his dad, Allan Sr, told the Times, after watching and recording his son's performance to add to his collection.

"We have had messages from people all over the world, it's fantastic.

"His brothers have been on the phone - they could hardly talk with pride."

It was the oldest Campbell brother, Wayne, who first started the tradition in the family, soon followed by Allan and Robert, with their other sibling, Thomas, being the only one to not play in a pipe band.

All three sons were even crowned world champions at the same time, though Allan Sr says that success is not owed to their parentage!

"They didn't get it from us - we play nothing!", he said.

"Me and their mum (Loraine) said, 'You need a hobby instead of hanging about'.

"Wayne started then the others followed suit, every single weekend we were away."

Since then Allan has performed in countless competitions, at the now King Charles' 70th birthday, and for the Queen's platinum jubilee, as previously reported by the Times.

Then, he was fresh from playing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, where he remarked that the late monarch had been "looking nice and healthy" as she enjoyed the celebrations.

Having joined the Black Watch after leaving school at just 16-years-old, Allan is no stranger to putting on a show, as he was one of the youngest ever to play at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo as a teenager.

The soldier had received a five-year contract at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, though was only able to lead for two years due to the pandemic.

"He's 'Mr Cool' - he's just done 40 shows at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo," his dad continued.

"My wife got a text from people in Australia, who we met at the Tattoo, saying they had been up all night watching and that we must be super proud.

"Don't get me wrong, we love all our sons, but he is just special, he's done everything off his own merit."