King Charles and Queen Camilla to attend 'milestone' event in Scotland

King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend what has been described as a "milestone" occasion when the new Scottish Parliament is formally opened later this month.

The ceremony, scheduled for Saturday 27 June, will see the King deliver an address to MSPs, officially launching the parliamentary term that follows the Holyrood elections held in May.

The event brings together elected representatives, cultural performers, and community figures to mark the beginning of the new legislative session.

The entertainment programme will showcase Scottish artistic talent, with contributions from both the National Theatre of Scotland and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

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A highlight of the cultural proceedings will be a new work by Scotland's Makar, Padraig MacAoidh.

The national poet has created a piece entitled Let This Hall Be Full Of Noises specifically for the occasion, which he will recite in Gaelic before an English translation is provided.

Following the formal proceedings, Charles and Camilla will meet "local heroes" nominated by MSPs from constituencies and regions throughout Scotland.

Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson spoke of the significance of the occasion, stating: "The start of a new Parliament is all about optimism, hope and a renewal of what the Parliament means to the people of Scotland."

The royal couple previously visited Holyrood in 2024 when the Parliament celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Mr Gibson praised the continued royal engagement with the institution, saying: "Their Majesties' support for this institution has been steadfast."

He expressed enthusiasm for "celebrating the very best of Scotland" while maintaining "a focus on our future."

The May election saw the SNP claim 58 seats, falling short of the 65 required for an outright majority at Holyrood despite their historic fifth successive win.

Labour and Reform UK each secured 17 seats, placing them in a joint second position, with Reform marking their first significant electoral breakthrough north of the border.

The Scottish Greens achieved their strongest ever result with 15 seats, including their first constituency victories in the party's history.

The Conservatives endured their worst performance in a Holyrood election, dropping to 12 seats and losing their status as the principal opposition party.

The Liberal Democrats returned 10 members to the chamber.

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