Charles III and Camilla in Scotland: “Holyrood Week” begins

It is a tradition that interweaves centuries of history between the British Crown and its Scottish counterpart. Named after Holyroodhouse, the official home of British sovereigns in Scotland, Charles III began his traditional “Holyrood Week” on July 2, 2024. Every year in July, the King visits Edinburgh to perform a series of engagements and attend official functions. Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted with a standing ovation as they arrived by helicopter from their Scottish home in Birgall in the early hours of the morning as they spent the weekend. The Sovereign later inspected troops from the 5th Battalion of the Balaclava Company who had come to pay their respects in the gardens of Holyrood Palace, accompanied by Alastair Bruce, Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

A warm-up before this week's symbolic start: the “main ceremony”. An event where the king receives the keys to “his” city of Edinburgh. On a velvet cushion, the Lord Provost, the closest rank to the mayor of the Scottish capital, Robert Aldridge, presents the key to His Majesty by uttering the customary formula: “We, the Lord Provost and members of the Municipal Council, 'Edinburgh, welcome Your Majesty to the capital of Scotland, the capital of your ancient and hereditary kingdom, and your good city. We will present the keys of Edinburgh for your gracious approval.' To which Charles, touching the key, replied with an equally solemn formula: “I return these keys to you, fully believing that they cannot be in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and my aldermen. Edinburgh is a good city.”

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The rest of the day's program included an investiture ceremony for the King, where he presented various medals to deserving Scottish citizens. Among them is author Sir Alexander McCall Smith, author of the best-selling literary series No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, as well as Paul Mealer, professor of music and composer of Charles III's coronation music. For her part, Queen Camilla hosted a reception honoring Scottish literature. Among the guests, we find booksellers, writers but also members of associations promoting literature.

After their engagement, the couple met on the lawns of the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a garden party honoring Scottish civil society. Flanked by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the royal couple greeted their guests one by one from the four corners of the country. A busy day responding to the tight timing of this visit.

Instead of a week, the King and Queen have been forced to limit their visit to two days due to the British general elections on Thursday, July 4. Until then, Charles will preside over a ceremony on Wednesday July 3 at Saint-Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, where he will present Scotland's highest award, the Thistle, to his wife Camilla and his brother Edward. Prince William, who bears the title of Duke of Rotsey, is also expected north of Hadrian's Wall.