COURT CIRCULAR

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The King and The Queen Consort this morning travelled to Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster, London SW1, and were received upon arrival by the Lord Great Chamberlain (the Lord Carrington). The Lord Speaker (the Lord McFall of Alcluith) read, and then presented, an Address from the House of Lords to The King.

Afterwards the Lord Speaker of the House of Commons (the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP) read, and subsequently presented, an Address from the House of Commons to His Majesty. The King was graciously pleased to make reply to both Addresses.

Their Majesties later arrived at Edinburgh Airport and were received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh (Councillor Robert Aldridge, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost) and the Rt Hon Alister Jack MP (Secretary of State for Scotland).

The King and The Queen Consort drove to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and were received in the Forecourt by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh and members of the City of Edinburgh Council, when the Rt Hon the Lord Provost surrendered to The King the Keys of the City, which His Majesty returned to him.

A Guard of Honour found by Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, under the command of Major Robert Weir, was mounted in the Forecourt.

Subsequently The King and The Queen Consort were received inside the Palace by the Hereditary Keeper (the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon).

The King, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex and Forfar and The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, later walked in procession behind the Coffin bearing Her late Majesty to St Giles’ Cathedral, whilst The Queen Consort and The Countess of Wessex and Forfar travelled by car.

Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses attended a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her late Majesty The Queen in St. Giles’ Cathedral and were received at the West Door by the Minister of St Giles’ (the Reverend Calum MacLeod).

The Prince of Wales was represented by Lieutenant Commander Robert Dixon RN.

The Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP (First Minister of the Scottish Government) was received afterwards by The King at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Mrs Alison Johnstone MSP (Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament) was received by His Majesty.

The King and The Queen Consort later drove to the Scottish Parliament and were received at Queensberry House by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and the First Minister of the Scottish Government.

The Presiding Officer welcomed Their Majesties and, together with the Leaders of Opposition parties, presented Motions of Condolence to The King to which His Majesty was graciously pleased to make reply.

The King and The Queen Consort afterwards attended a Reception.

This evening The King, accompanied by The Queen Consort, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex and Forfar, accompanied by The Countess of Wessex and Forfar, and The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Mounted Vigil at the Coffin of Her late Majesty as it Lay in State in St Giles’ Cathedral.

Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses afterwards undertook a walkabout outside the Cathedral.