Pictures of King Charles in Scotland for Holyrood anniversary

This morning saw the Crown of Scotland arriving at the Scottish Parliament with an escort and a guard of honour. 

The Duke of Hamilton carries the Crown of Scotland as he arrives ahead of the visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) Following the arrival of the Crown of Scotland, which was delivered by the Duke of Hamilton, King Charles and Queen Camilla followed. 

They were escorted into the building by Scottish Parliament presiding officer Alison Johnson. 

King Charles III and Queen Camilla with Scottish Parliament presiding officer Alison Johnson (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) Once inside, the King and Queen met the leaders of Scotland's political parties including First Minister John Swinney, newly appointed leader of the Scottish Tories Russell Findlay, Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and the Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton. 

King Charles III meets FM John Swinney (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) New Scottish Tory Leader Russell Findlay's first day in the job was quite a big one. (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) Anas Sarwar meets King Charles while Deputy Green Leader Lorna Slater stands by. (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) Greens co-leader Lorna Slater was also in attendance for the arrival of King Charles. Her colleague Patrick Harvie had posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a picture of protestors outside the Scottish Parliament who are against the monarchy. 

Demonstrators could bee seen with signs held up that said 'Not My King'. 

Mr Harvie wrote: “Great to see people gathered outside the Scottish Parliament for the 25th anniversary celebrations, with a special welcome for some of our guests today.”

Among them was former MSP Tommy Shepard. 

(Image: Colin Mearns) Meanwhile, inside Parliament, there were plenty of familiar faces in the chamber awaiting the King's Speech. 

Among them was former First Minister's Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. 

Alison Johnson predecessor,  Sir George Reid, was also in attendance.

Former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf in the main chamber (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) (Image: Jeff J Mitchell) King Charles then arrived to make his speech. 

In his speech he hailed Scotland’s “natural beauty” and “strength of character”.

He also covered topics such as climate change, and his time spent in Scotland which was a uniquely special place in the hearts of his family, saying the late Queen Elizabeth “treasured the time spent at Balmoral”.

King Charles III with Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Alison Johnstone (Image: Jeff J Mitchell)