The Queen has travelled
to Scotland for Holyrood Week where she has been joined by members of her
family including Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and the Earl and Countess
of Wessex.
Buckingham Palace previously
said Her Majesty, who experiences ongoing mobility issues, would not take
a decision on whether to travel to Edinburgh until nearer the time.
But on Monday, she took part in the Ceremony of the Keys with the Earl and
Countess.
The ancient ceremony took
place on the forecourt of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in
Scotland, as part of Holyrood Week – also known as Royal Week.
As part of the tradition, the
monarch is symbolically handed the keys of the city by the Lord Provost and
tradition dictates she then returns them, entrusting their safekeeping to
Edinburgh’s elected officials.
She appeared on good form as
she beamed with delight and watched the ceremony, using her walking stick as an
aid.
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The Queen was pictured using her walking stick at the event
This isn’t the only public
engagement the Queen is undertaking in Scotland for Holyrood Week. On
Tuesday, she is confirmed to attend an armed forces ceremony in the gardens of
the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The event will see members of
the armed forces parade as part of the presentation of the key for Edinburgh
Castle. It will be an opportunity to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and
pay tribute to her role as head of the UK armed forces.
The Governor of Edinburgh
Castle, assisted by three service cadets, is due to address the Queen with:
“We, the serving members of Your Majesty’s armed forces, bound by our oath
to you, your heirs and successors, offer for your gracious acceptance the key
to Your Majesty’s Royal Castle of Edinburgh.”
The Queen will respond:
“I return this key to the safekeeping of My Governor of Edinburgh Castle,
in gratitude for the symbolic act of loyalty of our armed forces, confident of
your faithful allegiance to your oath.”
Other royals will also take
part in engagements between Monday and Friday. On Tuesday, Princess Anne will
conduct an investiture on behalf of the Queen at Holyroodhouse.
On Wednesday, the garden party
at Holyroodhouse will take place hosted by Charles, Anne, Edward and Sophie.
Guests invited are those who have made positive contributions to communities
across Scotland.
On Friday, Charles will attend
a Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the palace.
He and Anne will also attend the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral.
Edward will also host a
celebration in the gardens at Holyroodhouse for Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
holders from across Scotland on Friday.
Scotland holds a special place
in the Queen’s heart. The monarch, 96, usually travels to her private
estate, Balmoral, in July and stays there for an extended summer
break until October. She was most recently in Scotland at the end of May where
she spent a few days resting and relaxing at Balmoral ahead of her
busy Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
Her granddaughter Princess
Eugenie has previously revealed that the Queen is “happiest” at her
rural Scottish estate. “I think Granny is the happiest there,”
Eugenie said in documentary, Our Queen At Ninety. “I think she
really, really loves the Highlands. Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs,
there’s always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time.”
