Scotland marked the coronation of King Charles and his wife Camilla yesterday with a grand procession full of pageantry and a solemn church service where he was presented with the “Honours of Scotland”, Britain’s oldest crown jewels. Charles and Camilla were crowned in London’s Westminster Abbey in May in front of about 100 world leaders in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for seven decades.
The 74-year-old, who is said to have a deep affection for Scotland, succeeded his mother as monarch of the UK and 14 other realms when Queen Elizabeth died in September.
But in a nod to the historical fact that England and Scotland had different monarchs until the crowns were united in 1603, separate Scottish celebrations to herald his coronation were held yesterday.
Crowds gathered on the famous Royal Mile in Edinburgh to cheer a People’s Procession, involving about 100 people representing various aspects of Scottish life, and a Royal Procession, featuring hundreds of service personnel, along with military pipe and drum bands.
At a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication in the city’s St Giles’ Cathedral, Charles was presented with the Honours of Scotland – the historic Scottish crown jewels which have been used in royal ceremonies for the last five centuries.
These included the Crown of Scotland, made for Scottish King James V in 1540 and used to crown Mary Queen of Scots in 1543, and the Sceptre, thought to have been given to James IV by Pope Alexander VI in 1494.
“By the symbol of this crown, we pledge our loyalty, entrusting you to reign as our king in the service of all your people,” said Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon and Scotland’s most senior peer, as he presented Charles with the crown on a cushion. “In receiving this crown, I so promise by God’s help,” replied Charles, who was joined at the service by Prince William and his wife Kate.
&uuid=(email))