King Charles Celebrates Royal Week in Edinburgh with High Spirits and Traditional Ceremonies
SCOTS GO WILD FOR THE KING!
In a spectacular display of pomp and circumstance, King Charles III descended upon Scotland like royalty (pun intended) for his annual Holyrood Week celebrations! And what a week it was – packed with pageantry, pomp, and plenty of Scottish charm.
The monarch, 76, arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the capital city, in style – aboard one of two new claret liveried helicopters acquired by the palace. Talk about making an entrance! The King and Queen Consort Camilla, 77, touched down on Scottish soil amidst a sea of tartan-clad dignitaries, military personnel, and, yes, bagpipes.
The first order of business? A traditional Royal Salute and Guard of Honour at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. And what a sight it was – The Royal Company of Archers, The King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, formed up in their finest tartan attire, along with the Palace Guard made up of soldiers from Balaklava Company, 5 Scots, and the High Constables of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
As the King inspected the troops, he couldn't help but stop to chat with some of the service personnel. Who knew being a monarch was so much fun? Meanwhile, Queen Camilla paid her respects at Ratho Library on the outskirts of Edinburgh, where she urged locals to "keep on reading" – and revealed new research showing that just 10 minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 20%! Talk about a royal endorsement!
But wait, there's more! The King also took part in the ancient Ceremony of the Keys – an official welcome to the city of Edinburgh. And what a grand affair it was! Lord Provost Robert Aldridge presented the monarch with the keys to the city, which he promptly returned for "safe keeping." Ah, the drama!
As the royal couple settled into their Scottish sojourn, they were joined by a veritable who's who of literary luminaries – including Sir Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus series. The Queen even got down on her hands and knees to chat with some of the young writers from Ratho Early Learning and Childcare centre! Who says royalty has to be stuffy?
And in a heartwarming display of royal generosity, the Queen unveiled a plaque at the newly reopened library – a testament to the power of books and the importance of literacy. As she departed, she praised the local community for their efforts in promoting literature and literacy.
As the Scottish sun set on this grand week of celebrations, one thing was clear: the King and Queen were thoroughly enjoying their time in Scotland, surrounded by the country's rich history, culture, and – of course – its iconic bagpipes.
