King to be presented with Scotland’s crown jewels during thanksgiving service
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The King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland – the country’s crown jewels – when a service of thanksgiving and dedication is held in his honour.
Charles and Camilla will be commemorated at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh during the event attended by leading figures from Scottish life and members of a people’s procession who will walk through the Scottish capital.
Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “The service in St Giles’ will be an uplifting and fitting celebration of our new King and Queen, and will reflect the great affection we Scots have for them.
“I know that thousands of Scots will line the streets of Edinburgh to pay tribute to the King and welcome the royal family, once again, to Scotland.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, will be among those at the event as will the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The Scottish capital’s famous Royal Mile is part of the route of the people’s procession of around 100 individuals, representing all aspects of Scotland’s life, including charities which the King supports as patron, walking from Edinburgh Castle to the cathedral.
They will be led by Corporal Cruachan IV, the Shetland pony regimental mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and joined by other military units, part of more than 700 members of the armed forces taking part in the day.
The Honours of Scotland – crown, sword and sceptre – will soon follow escorted by military personnel from across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force through the Scottish capital.
The service will feature centuries-old aspects of Scottish royal tradition along with new additions such as pieces of music written specially for the occasion, a psalm sung in Gaelic and the use of passages from the New Testament in Scots.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, will preach the sermon and then provide a blessing to close the service.
Others involved will include violinist Nicola Benedetti, who will be among the musicians playing, and Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger, who will carry the Elizabeth Sword which is being used in place of the Sword of State.
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf will give a reading during the service, while others attending from the world of politics include Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
The service will feature five new pieces of music commissioned to mark the occasion, including Balmoral Flourishes, by composer Paul Mealor, which will be performed by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.
The Red Arrows will provide the finale to the day, staging a flypast after the service over the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
