Queen looks resplendent in green coat as she arrives to open new session of the Scottish Parliament
Giving Holyrood the green light! Queen looks resplendent in green coat as she arrives to open new session of the Scottish Parliament for the first time without Philip as she is supported by kilt-wearing Charles and Camilla
The monarch, 95, was joined by Prince Charles and Camilla before delivering a speech during the ceremonyShe opted for a green coat while the Duke of Cornwall donned a tartan kilt and the Duchess wore green jacketMusic, poetry and statements by Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and Nicola Sturgeon featured SaturdayAfter the ceremony, Queen, Charles and Camilla are meeting Scots recognised for contributions during Covid
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The Queen has called for world leaders to come together and seize the moment at the COP26 summit as she spoke at the formal opening of the new session of the Scottish parliament.
Her Majesty, appropriately dressed in green, said ‘the eyes of the world will be on the United Kingdom’ when politicians meet for the climate change conference in Glasgow in November.
She said parliaments across the globe had a key role ‘to help create a better, healthier future for us all’ as she addressed MSPs in Holyrood’s debating chamber.
The Monarch, 95, also paid tribute to the ‘extraordinary contribution’ those who helped battle the coronavirus pandemic had made over the last year and a half.
Meanwhile she gave a touching tribute to her late husband Prince Philip, mentioning her ‘many happy memories’ in ‘this wonderful country’.
The Queen was joined by Prince Charles and and Camilla – know as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland – as she marked the official start of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament.
She opted for a resplendent green coat while the Duke of Cornwall donned a tartan kilt and the Duchess wore a long green overcoat and matching beret.
Her Majesty met with party and parliamentary leaders in the garden lobby ahead of the ceremony in the debating chamber.
Her Majesty steps out of her Bentley and smiles at the awaiting crowd during a bitter day in the Scottish capital ahead of her speech
The Queen has arrived in Edinburgh where she will address Holyrood’s MSPs as she formally opens the new session of the Scottish Parliament
The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, arrive at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
The Queen shakes hands with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament
The Queen prepares to make her Address to Parliament in the Debating Chamber during the opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
Her Majesty, looking dazzling in green, looks up and smiles as she heads into the chamber ahead of her speech on Saturday morning
The Duke of Hamilton carries the Crown of Scotland into the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh ahead of the Queen giving a speech in the debating chamber, to mark the official start of the sixth session of Parliament
The monarch, 95, will be accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay and will deliver a speech during the ceremony in the debating chamber to mark the official start of the sixth session of parliament
Her Majesty said: ‘The eyes of the world will be on the United Kingdom and Scotland in particular, as leaders come together to address the challenges of climate change.
‘There is a key role for the Scottish Parliament, as with all parliaments, to help create a better, healthier future for us all, and to engage with the people they represent, especially our young people.’
She said Britain has cause for ‘hope and optimism’ as ‘we all step out from adverse, uncertain times’, in reference to the pandemic.
She also used the speech to ‘celebrate those who have made an extraordinary contribution to the lives of other people in Scotland, locally or nationally, during the Covid-19 pandemic’.
Meanwhile she paid a touching tribute to her late husband, who died in April: ‘I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country and of the many happy memories Prince Philip and I always held during our time here.
‘It is often said that it is the people that make a place – and there are a few places where this is truer than in Scotland.
‘As we have seen in recent times, we all know the difficult circumstances that many people have encountered during the last 18 months. However, alongside this have been countless examples of resilience and goodwill.’
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also reflected on the Duke in her speech, saying the occasion was ‘tinged with regret at an absence’.
Her Majesty said: ‘The eyes of the world will be on the United Kingdom and Scotland in particular, as leaders come together to address the challenges of climate change’
The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, are pictured as they arrived at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
Music, poetry and statements by Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone also featured during Saturday morning’s opening of parliament.
After the service, the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall went to meet Scots who have been recognised for their contribution to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Queen, who has been on her annual break at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, met party and parliamentary leaders in the garden lobby ahead of the ceremony in the debating chamber.
The royal mace that sits at the front of the chamber and the Crown of Scotland was carried in during a procession as music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland played.
The Royal Conservatoire Brass performed Fanfare for the Opening of Parliament 2021, composed by John Wallace and conducted by John Logan as the Queen entered the chamber.
She was followed by the mace, which was carried by parliamentary clerk Rea Cris, and the crown was brought in by the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, the hereditary keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Music was performed by Orin Simpson on the flute and Seoras Chlad on the guitar from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music and then Musicians in Exile – Glasgow-based performers comprising asylum seekers and refugees – before a speech by Ms Sturgeon.
Ae Fond Kiss by Robert Burns and Kirn Street by Michael Biggins was performed by Biggins, BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2021.
The Queen has arrived in Edinburgh where she will address Holyrood’s MSPs as she formally opens the new session of the Scottish Parliament
Her Majesty speaks with those greeting her and shakes their hands before she gives the speech to the Scottish Parliament today
Richard Scott the 10th Duke of Buccleuch views the Royal Archers at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh ahead of Queen’s speech
Music, poetry, and statements by Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will also feature during Saturday morning’s opening of parliament. Pictured: Royal Archers
After the ceremony, the Queen, Charles and Camilla will meet Scots who have been recognised for their contribution to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pictured: Guards at the Scottish Parliament
The Queen, who has been on her annual break at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, will meet party and parliamentary leaders in the garden lobby ahead of the ceremony in the debating chamber. Pictured: Royal Archers today
The newly appointed Scots Makar Kathleen Jamie performed a specially commissioned poem, followed by the National Youth Choir of Scotland singing the song We Hold The Future.
For the departure of the Queen, Farewell to the Creeks will be performed by the Scottish Parliament’s Piper Stuart McMillan MSP from the Members’ Garden.
A shopkeeper from Edinburgh who raised money for her local community during the Covid-19 pandemic is one of the ‘local heroes’ who attended Saturday’s opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament.
Chosen by the Presiding Officer, Linda Williams set up a coronavirus hardship fund at the Premier Broadway Convenience Store in Oxgangs that raised over £10,000 to help hundreds of locals pay for essentials such as utility bills and food.
The First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture in the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, ahead of the speech
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon high fives a visitor’s daughter in the public gallery ahead of the opening of the sixth session
Ms Williams said: ‘I am very happy to have been nominated, although I certainly wasn’t looking for any thanks or recognition.
‘It has been such a hard 18 months for everyone, and I think we played a small part in making life a bit easier for our customers and neighbours by setting up a free same-day delivery service and starting a hardship fund to help those who slipped through the cracks of the financial help that was available.
‘Our community rose to the occasion magnificently; people were incredibly generous with their donations, and the whole experience became a shining light of hope during a hard time.’
Ms Johnstone added: ‘Our local heroes initiative is all about celebrating people from across Scotland for their contributions to their communities throughout the pandemic and beyond.
‘The many actions and achievements of those nominated are truly inspiring. So many of our local heroes have put others before themselves, for the good of others.
‘I am proud the Scottish Parliament will recognise people like Linda and that our local heroes will play a part in our 2021 opening ceremony.’
