Source: BBC
The official website of the Kataeb Party leader
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Wednesday 5 July 2023 13:46:13
King Charles to Receive Scottish Crown Jewels
King Charles III will be presented with Scotland's crown jewels in Edinburgh later in a ceremony to mark his Coronation.
He will receive the crown and sceptre which form part of the Honours of Scotland.
The national thanksgiving service at St Giles' Cathedral will also feature a new sword named after the late Queen Elizabeth.
It echoes an event held in 1953 to celebrate her accession to the throne.
Before the service the crown jewels will be brought from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles' in a procession down the Royal Mile involving about 100 people from various aspects of Scottish life.
More than 700 members of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will be part of the procession.
The King and Queen Camilla will leave the Palace of Holyroodhouse - their official Scottish residence - by car at 14:05 for a separate procession up the Royal Mile to the Kirk.
They are expected to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.
Three pipers from King Charles' former school, Gordonstoun, will play during the final stage of the procession.
The Stone of Destiny - which was taken to London for the King's Coronation at Westminster Abbey in May - has been returned to Edinburgh and will also play a part in the service.
The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton will preach the sermon.
The crown jewels will be presented to the King by the Very Reverend Prof David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal and Dean of the Order of the Thistle.
A 21-gun salute will be fired from Edinburgh Castle at about 15:20 before the royal procession travels back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Crowds, which are expected to gather on the streets of the Scottish capital, will then see a fly-past by the Red Arrows.
Protests
A group of protesters from the UK anti-monarchy campaign Republic has gathered outside St Giles' Cathedral
Meanwhile a separate rally will take place outside Holyrood organised by Scottish pressure group Our Republic.
The co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, who are both outspoken republican MSPs as well as government ministers, will address this rally.
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf, who is a republican, will attend the St Giles' service.
Among those taking part in the people's procession to escort the crown are 16-year-old Ailsa Russell, head girl at Clydeview Academy in Gourock, Inverclyde and Lochlan Sweaton, 17, former head boy at Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
Ailsa told the BBC she was "very excited and honoured" to take part in the ceremony.
She added: "I am hoping it goes well, nobody is tripped and it doesn't rain as we won't get to do the nice things we have practiced."
Lochlan added: "There has been a couple of things we have been told to do.
"Hopefully the crown doesn't smash and we will get fined for that."
Key timings
13:15 People's Procession of about 100 people representing aspects of Scottish life, including charities of which The King is patron, departs Edinburgh Castle
13:30 People's Procession arrives at St Giles' Cathedral
13:40 The Honours of Scotland leave Edinburgh Castle Esplanade under military escort
13:40 Military pipe and drums bands and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment move from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to West Parliament Square
13:50 The Honours of Scotland arrive at West Parliament Square by vehicle
14:05 Royal Procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse
14:10 Royal Procession arrives at St Giles' Cathedral
14:15 National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication begins
15:15 Service ends
15:20 The King and Queen exit St Giles' to 21-Gun Salute from Edinburgh Castle
15:27 Royal party arrive at Palace of Holyroodhouse
15:40 RAF flypast down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to Palace of Holyroodhouse
What are the Honours of Scotland?
Made of gold, silver and precious gems, they are the oldest crown jewels in Britain and comprise the priceless crown, sceptre and sword of state.
They are items of immense significance and many will remember the Crown of Scotland sitting atop the Queen's coffin when she lay at rest at St Giles' Cathedral.
The crown was made for James V, who first wore it at the Coronation of Queen Mary of Guise in 1540.
Mary Queen of Scots was the first to be crowned using the new crown and sceptre together, in 1543. The origins of the sceptre are less certain - it may have been a papal gift to James IV.
However, the sword King Charles will be presented with is brand new, and commissioned because the existing 16th Century sword is too fragile to handle.
Named after his late mother, it is called the Elizabeth sword.
Turbulent past
The Honours have had a turbulent past. They were removed from the castle and hidden in 1651-60 to keep them from Oliver Cromwell's army.
In 1707, following the Act of Union between England and Scotland, they were locked in a chest and sealed away.
In 1818, Sir Walter Scott, the famous novelist, rediscovered the Honours - along with a mysterious silver wand.
The Honours of Scotland and their accompanying exhibition are located on the first floor of the Royal Palace on the east side of Crown Square at Edinburgh Castle.