CHILDREN AT THE HEART OF HOLYROOD EVENT
The programme for the Opening Ceremony of the Scottish Parliament, taking place on Saturday 27 June, has been announced today.
Their Majesties The King and Queen attended the Opening Ceremony of the Scottish Parliament yesterday, formally marking the beginning of the Seventh Session of the Holyrood Parliament.
The day start with The Crown of Scotland being escorted from Edinburgh Castle. Along with the Elizabeth Sword, the Crown of Scotland was processed into the Scottish Parliament through a guard of honour made up of young people from across Scotland.
Following the arrival of The King and Queen, the event in Holyrood’s Debating Chamber began with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Brass Ensemble performing a Fanfare composed by Sir James McMillan KT CBE and conducted by John Logan.
The Mace was carried by Robert White, an administrator at the Scottish Parliament. Three Team Scotland athletes who are competing in the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games were also be part of the procession.
Boxer Nicholas Devlin will carry the Elizabeth Sword accompanied by para-athlete Joanna Robertson who will be racing on the athletics track and Beth Riva who is competing in Bowls.
The Officers of Arms was accompanied by young people from Young Scot, the Scottish Youth Parliament, RNIB Scotland (Haggeye), the John Smith Centre Parliamentary Internship Programme, sportscotland’s Young People’s Sport panel and the Young Women’s movement.
The Crown of Scotland will be borne by the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon escorted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
The event, which was broadcast live, included opening remarks from the Presiding Officer, Kenneth Gibson MSP. His Majesty The King then make an address to the Chamber and First Minister John Swinney MSP responded to His Majesty’s address.
The event also celebrated the special anniversaries of two of Scotland’s cultural organisations with specially commissioned performances.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and members of the NYCOS Edinburgh Regional Choir and NYCOS BSL Youth Choir performed Sarah Quartel’s The Beat of a Different Drum.
National Theatre of Scotland presented As Others See Us written and directed by Martin O’Connor, incorporating a poem to celebrate their 20th anniversary and an excerpt from their acclaimed production Through the Shortbread Tin and performed by members of The Lyceum Youth Theatre.
Scotland’s Makar Pàdraig MacAoidh [Peter Mackay] also delivered a poem in Gaelic called Let This Hall be Full of Noises.
Ae Fond Kiss, by Robert Burns was be performed by Rachel Groves (clarsach) and Ellie Beaton (vocalist), who are the current and previous winners of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.
The Parliament’s piper Stuart McMillan MSP then played Bonnie Dundee and A Hundred Pipers from the Members’ Garden to close the event.
Their Majesties then went on to meet Local Heroes, who have been nominated by MSPs for their extraordinary contribution to their local communities.
The King and Queen departed the Scottish Parliament through a Guard of Honour made up of young people.
Hope Keating, 5, from Girlguiding Scotland presented a posy to The Queen.