New city hails a new monarch
This would have ‘gladdened my dear mother’s heart’, says the visiting King
KING Charles III said it would have ‘gladdened my dear mother’s heart’ to confer city status on Dunfermline yesterday as it was one of her last wishes.
The Fife city was chosen for the honour by the late Queen as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The King and the Queen Consort received a rapturous welcome, with thousands packing the city centre to greet them with shouts of ‘God Save The King’ for their first official visit together since the period of royal mourning ended.
But there was a less than enthusiastic reception for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was booed both on her arrival and departure, much to her obvious embarrassment.
King Charles told dignitaries that he and his wife were ‘immensely proud’ to be able to share such a historic moment and that it would have ‘gladdened my dear mother’s heart, as it certainly gladdens mine’.
He said: ‘There could be no more fitting way to mark my beloved mother’s extraordinary life of service than by granting this
‘Indispensable role in the life of our country’
honour to a place made famous by its own long and distinguished history, and by the indispensable role it has played in the life of our country.
‘Now, of course, we gather to celebrate this great occasion but also to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty, whose deep love for Scotland was one of the foundations of her life.’
The couple’s visit started at the City Chambers where the waiting crowd was so deep it was impossible to count them.
The King, wearing the Old Stewart Tartan, and the Queen Consort, in a favourite tartan outfit by designer Mr Roy, were greeted by cheers as they shook hands with an official line-up, which included Miss Sturgeon and a local pipe band. The First Minister highlighted the fact that silks Her Late Majesty used both in her wedding and coronation gowns had been made in Dunfermline.
She said: ‘It is a great honour indeed that at the start of a new era Your Majesties are here to mark this further milestone for this very special community.’
Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: ‘It is a huge honour for Dunfermline to be bestowed city status and will be a huge boost to the city and its people. And it’s a huge honour that the King and Queen have made this their first official visit together after royal mourning.’
Eight new cities were named as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Dunfermline’s bid for city status was based on its heritage and status as an ancient seat of royal power, but it was also one of the fastest-growing towns in Europe.
The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and minister of St Margaret’s Community Church in Dunfermline, delivered a blessing at the ceremony to mark the new city status.
He said: ‘We are indebted to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth for conferring, as part of her Jubilee Celebrations, city status on Dunfermline – the Auld Grey Toon. A Toon no longer.’
Before they left, the royal couple signed a visitors’ book. The King appeared to make a light-hearted reference to his recent tussles with pens on official engagements. Laughing and handing the pen to his wife, he appeared to say: ‘These things are so temperamental.’
The couple also visited Dunfermline Abbey – the ancient burial site of kings and queens of Scotland, including Robert the Bruce – to mark its 950th anniversary. The Queen visited when it celebrated its 900th anniversary.
Outside, they chatted with people in the crowd, including Catherine Gellan-Adams, 91, whose stylish hat was admired by the Queen Consort.
‘We are all here because we are royalists but quite apart from that, I think he is a sensible guy and his wife is a sensible lady too,’ Miss GellanAdams said.
‘I think she will keep him on the straight and narrow and I told her that. And she laughed and said yes, she would.’
Elspeth Duncan, 75, said she was ‘overjoyed’ at meeting the new King and Queen Consort.
Remarking on the booing that greeted Miss Sturgeon, she said: ‘That doesn’t surprise me. She thinks she is Queen of Scotland and doesn’t realise how many people dislike her. We are very happy with the Royal Family we have and with the Union, thank you.’
There was a similarly warm welcome for the royal couple later in Edinburgh, where they hosted a reception to celebrate British South Asian communities. Around 300 well-wishers gathered at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Shahid Khan – a DJ better known as Naughty Boy – was one of the first guests to meet the King. He said: ‘I really, really feel this King is like a people’s King. It’s quite evident. And that’s what this country needs right now.’
Edinburgh-based Wali Tasar Uddin, director and senior adviser to the British Bangladeshi Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘He was fantastic, he follows his mother. He seems a very humble person.’
‘I think he is a sensible guy’