Queen makes return 20 years on as Parly parties like it’s 1999
The Queen will address MSPS on Saturday – almost 20 years to the day since she opened the Scottish Parliament.
The event will begin with a procession of the Crown of Scotland before the Queen, who will be accompanied by Prince Charles, speaks in Holyrood’s debating chamber.
On Thursday,
July 1, 1999, she opened the parliament in its temporary home on The Mound, saying: “This is a society in which the qualities of co-operation, learning, entrepreneurial skill and national pride run deep.
“The grit, determination and humour and forthrightness and, above all, the strong sense of identity of Scottish people are qualities which contribute so much to the life of the United Kingdom.”
On Saturday, the Queen will be joined by some of the “Holyrood babies” who were born on July 1,1999.
Holyrood will then open its doors to the public from 3pm for an afternoon of celebrations, with live music and performers, face-painting and games.
The event will be the highlight of a year-long programme commemorating the 20th anniversary of devolution.
The opening in 1999 marked the return of a parliament to Scotland for the first time in nearly 300 years, and was attended by politicians, international ambassadors and celebrities. Donald Dewar, the inaugural First Minister who held office until his death in October 2000, gave an emotional speech in which he said democracy had been renewed in Scotland. However, Prime Minister Tony Blair was absent after staying in Belfast for crucial talks about the Northern Ireland peace process.