EDINBURGH: In a ceremony held at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, King Charles III was presented with the Honours of Scotland, which include the crown, scepter, and sword of state. This event took place two months after his official coronation as monarch. King Charles, accompanied by Queen Camilla, is currently in Scotland for a series of official engagements, residing at their official residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
As the royal couple made their way to the cathedral, they were greeted by enthusiastic crowds as well as groups of anti-monarchy protesters who expressed their opposition to the monarchy and called out, “Not my king.” Republican demonstrators have been following King Charles since his ascension to the throne in September last year, advocating for an elected head of state. Controversy arose during his coronation when a number of demonstrators were preemptively arrested by the police, sparking a debate on free speech.
Several Scottish Lawmakers Avoid Congregation
The service of thanksgiving and dedication was attended by Prince William, Charles’s eldest son and heir, along with his wife Kate, and other senior members of the royal family. Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf, despite being an avowed republican, also participated in the congregation. However, several Green lawmakers within Yousaf’s governing coalition in the Scottish Parliament chose not to attend, as they oppose the concept of hereditary monarchy. Patrick Harvie, one of the lawmakers who stayed away, stated that the monarchy is “fundamentally at odds with the kind of modern and democratic society we are trying to build here.”
While the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Greens are advocating for Scottish independence, their efforts to separate from the United Kingdom have faced setbacks in the courts. Prior to the service, a “people’s procession” comprised of prominent figures from Scottish arts, politics, education, civil society, and business took place. Soldiers in regimental tartan kilts marched up the Royal Mile, accompanied by the Royal Regiment of Scotland’s mascot, Shetland pony Corporal Cruachan IV. The festivities concluded with a fly-past by the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows.
The passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the royal family’s Scottish retreat, Balmoral, last September at the age of 96, marked the beginning of King Charles’s reign. Her body was brought to Edinburgh and laid in state at St Giles’ Cathedral before being transported to London for a state funeral.
