The King was greeted with pipes and drums – plus bows and arrows – as he arrived for his traditional official week in Scotland.
Charles, 76, was given a Royal Salute and Guard of Honour as he inspected The Royal Company of Archers, The King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, which is his official residence in the capital.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday morning, shortly after the King and Queen had arrived at the palace in a claret liveried helicopter, one of two new aircrafts acquired by the palace.
Each year, the monarch traditionally spends a week based at Holyroodhouse, an event known as Holyrood Week or Royal Week in Scotland.
Upon his arrival earlier today, Charles also took part in the Ceremony of the Keys – an official welcome to the Scottish city.
The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge presented keys to the city of Edinburgh to the King, who then immediately returned them for ‘safe keeping’.
The Lord Provost said to the King: ‘We, the Lord Provost and the members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the Capital City of your Ancient and Hereditary Kingdom of Scotland and offer for your gracious acceptance the Keys of Your Majesty’s good City of Edinburgh.’
The King replied: ‘I return these keys, being perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and Councillors of my good City of Edinburgh.’
The King was greeted with pipes and drums – plus bows and arrows – as he arrived for his traditional official week in Scotland. Here, he can be seen inspecting a Guard of Honour of soldiers from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King’s ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland – a role first created in 1822 for King George VI
Queen Camilla, meanwhile, visited Ratho Library on the outskirts of Edinburgh for her first engagement of the day
Upon his arrival earlier today, Charles also took part in the Ceremony of the Keys – an official welcome to the Scottish city
Before the ceremony, the palace’s garden was transformed into a parade ground and the King met senior military and uniformed figures.
He then received a royal salute and inspected a Guard of Honour of soldiers from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King’s ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland – a role first created in 1822 for King George VI.
Also lined up was the Palace Guard made up of soldiers from Balaklava Company, 5 Scots, and the High Constables of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Music at the official welcome was provided by The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Renditions included ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’ by the Scottish duo Proclaimers and ‘Counting Stars’ by One Republic.
The King walked past the Guard of Honour, casting his eye over the service personnel and stopping to talk to some of them, and he also chatted to members of the military bands.
Around 250 people were invited as a thank you for their work in the local community to watch the ceremony in the palace garden on July 1.
Also in Scotland for Royal Week celebrations is Queen Camilla, who visited Ratho Library on the outskirts of Edinburgh for her first engagement of the day.
Queen Camilla is greeted by Lord Lieutenant Sir Ian Rankin whilst arriving to officially open Ratho Library in Newbridge
Britain’s King Charles III talks with a Member of Royal Company of Archers during the traditional Ceremony of the Keys in the Gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 1
The King walked past the Guard of Honour, casting his eye over the service personnel and stopping to talk to some of them, and he also chatted to members of the military bands
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge (right) presents the keys to the City of Edinburgh to King Charles III during the Ceremony of the Keys in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse
The royal, who is a passionate advocate for literacy and literature, urged people to ‘keep on reading’ as she revealed new research showed that just ten minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 20 per cent.
Speaking about the research commissioned by her Queen’s Reading Room charity, Camilla said: ‘Neuroscientists have been looking at the power of reading and it’s just been proved that ten minutes a day reduces stress by 20 per cent.
‘Just ten minutes. So just keep on reading!’
She was speaking as she visited Ratho Library, which has been recently built as part of a nursery and community hub in partnership with the city’s International Book Festival and Edinburgh City Libraries.
She was met by Sir Ian Rankin, the world-famous crime author who is also Deputy Lieutenant of Edinburgh and supporting a new initiative, Paper Trails, which promotes literature in local communities by collaboration with the mobile library service.
Camilla, 77, appeared delighted to meet him again and was shown to the region’s motorised service that was a lifeline during COVID.
Inside the building itself Camilla, wearing in a smart polka-dotted dress and court shoes, was introduced to a group of youngsters from the Ratho Early Learning and Childcare centre, who come to the library each Tuesday.
Bending down to talk to them, the Queen joked: ‘Shall I come down here? I may not get back up again, but I will try!’
Dame Barbara Rae, from Edinburgh, Artist, Colourist and Master Printmaker, is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Stephen Clegg, from Edinburgh, is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. The honour recognises services to swimming
Duncan Scott, from Stirling, is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. The honour recognises services to swimming
The Reverend Kenneth MacKenzie, from Ballater, Domestic Chaplain to The King and Minister of the Parish of Braemar and Crathie, is made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony
Christopher Stark, from Glasgow, Chief Executive, Climate Change Committee, is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. The honour recognises services to tackling climate change
She hunkered on her heels, nonetheless.
She also spoke to a group of young talent who belong to the library’s ‘Citizen Collective Young People’s Writers Programme’.
She told one girl who talked about her plans: ‘So the book is still brewing’, adding: ‘You all throw ideas off one another? So do you share your writing and then critique it?’
Another member laughed, saying: ‘Supportively!’ ‘It just gives you so much confidence,’ another writer told her of the group. ‘
Well I shall look out for all your names,’ the Queen said, ‘I can say I met you at the very early stages of your careers!’
At a brief reception she met literary stars including Paul Hawkins, who wrote the hit thriller The Girl On The Train, and lives locally.
She told the Queen: ‘It’s a great place to live for a crime novel, you can imagine terrible things happening!’
She said afterwards: ‘It’s a small local library, rooted in the local community. There have recently been some terrifying statistics about literacy levels falling, so if you can get them young and install that passion in them.. you might not read your whole life but if you get the bug you will always come back to it. The Queen with her Reading Room is doing some wonderful things. ‘
Queen Camilla officially opens Ratho Library in Newbridge celebrating a partnership with Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh City Libraries as part of her trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week
Camilla opted for a smart polka-dotted dress and court shoes for the engagement at Ratho Library
Before the Queen left, she unveiled a plaque and gave a short off-the-cuff speech, telling guests: ‘Visiting this library today has just reinforced my belief in what wonderful places libraries are. From toddlers to pensioners, they manage to inspire a love of reading and books.
‘And to actually to see a new library like this, which I am thrilled to be opening today, well I wish more people would follow your example and open more new libraries over the country. I think sadly a lot of them have been closing down and to see something as wonderful as this being re-opened is a credit to all of you who have made it happen.
‘Writers, volunteers, backers…everyone who has made it possible. I am so please to have been able to come today. Thank you all of you.’
Libraries Manager Hana MacKechnie said of the visit: ‘It’s really exciting. We are proud to be able to celebrate our achievements with her and show her how much this place is loved and valued.’
