CROWNING GLORY
Crowds turned out as country celebrated the coronation in style
ABOUT a month after his official coronation in London, the King had a second celebration in Edinburgh.
Officially titled “a national service of thanksgiving and dedication to mark their majesty’s recent coronation”, June 9, 2023, was a Scottish coronation by another name.
Enthusiastic monarchists – perhaps not as many as expected – lined the Royal Mile to watch 100 people from all walks of life march from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral.
All the elements of a royal spectacle were there, with pipe bands, the magnificent horses of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Company of Archers parading through the centre of the capital.
Waiting for them in the cathedral were the great and the good of the nation, including the first minister, other politicians and religious leaders.
The King and Queen, wearing Order of the Thistle robes, travelled up the Royal Mile by car. They flashed past the people who had turned out to wave flags and welcome them.
Accompanying them were William and Kate, without their children. The royal parents thought it was too near the end of term to take them out of school again.
William also wore heavily embellished ceremonial robes, while his wife dazzled in a bright blue Catherine Walker coat with matching hat and shoes.
The centrepiece of the service was the presentation of the Honours of Scotland – the country’s crown jewels – to the new king.
The Crown was carried into the cathedral by Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton. Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk brought in the sceptre and Olympic rowing champion Dame Katherine Grainger held the sword.
The King was presented with each in turn, touched them and returned them to their bearers.
Humza Yousaf read from Psalm 19 and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Sally Foster-Fulton, gave the sermon. Nicola Benedetti played a violin solo. The service ended with God Save The King.
The royal party then returned to Holyroodhouse. There was a 21-gun salute, followed by a flypast from the Red Arrows.