Scotland is all set to celebrate the new King and Queen.
King Charles will be presented with the Honours of Scotland later today at a National Service of Thanksgiving in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The festivities in the capital will also include a People’s Procession, a Royal Procession, a 21-gun salute, and a flypast by the Red Arrows.
The famed Stone of Destiny will also be moved from the castle to the cathedral for the service.
The celebrations will begin around lunchtime, with public viewing areas available along the Royal Mile.
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, Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, will preach the sermon.
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.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, will be among those at the event.
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Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf will give a reading during the service, while others attending from the world of politics include Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
Rev Calum I MacLeod, minister of St Giles’, will provide the welcome and call to worship at the start of the service.
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The King meeting a young ‘queen’ at Kinneil House on Monday
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.
A Gaelic Psalm by Mealor, written especially for the service, will be sung by Joy Dunlop, in recognition of Scotland’s linguistic heritage.
There will also be contributions from other faiths and Christian denominations.
The Elizabeth Sword and Honours of Scotland. Pic: Historic Environment Scotland
During the ceremony, the sceptre and crown from the Honours of Scotland will be presented to the King, along with the Elizabeth Sword.
This is a new sword specially crafted to be used in place of the current Sword of State, gifted to James IV by Pope Julius in 1507, which can no longer be used due to its fragile condition.
Dame Katherine will carry the Elizabeth Sword, Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk, will hold the sceptre, and the Duke of Hamilton the Crown of Scotland.
Traffic restrictions and temporary road closures will be in place around the Royal Mile during the celebrations. Those planning to attend are being urged to plan ahead and prepare for changeable weather conditions.
