On 26 August 1968, the first four Apple singles – ‘Hey Jude’ by the Beatles, ‘Those Were the Days’ by Mary Hopkin, ‘Sour Milk Sea’ by Jackie Lomax, and ‘Thingumybob’ by the Black Dyke Mills Band – were delivered by chauffeur-driven Mercedes to HM the Queen at Buckingham Palace, HM the Queen Mother at St James’s Palace, and HRH Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon at Kensington Palace. A few days later, this letter was received:
Dear Sir:
I am commanded by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to send Her Majesty’s thanks for so kindly sending the four new records recently made by the Apple Corps. Her Majesty is greatly touched by this kind thought from the Beatles and their new company, and has much enjoyed listening to these recordings.
Yours faithfully,
Jean Rankin, Lady-in-waiting,
Birkhall, Ballater