The
Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke
of Edinburgh took part in the Knights of the Thistle Service at St
Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh today.
And
despite temperatures reaching a scorching 28C across the UK today, the
royal party appeared in the traditional dark green velvet floor length
robes, for the service.
Thousands of people lined the Royal Mile
outside the cathedral to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family as they
entered the cathedral to a fanfare from Her Majesty's Household
Trumpeters in Scotland.
The Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, Queen
Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive at St Giles' Cathedral in
Edinburgh to take part in the Knights of the Thistle service
Dressed in full traditional regalia, Prince
William looked worlds away from the relaxed and laid back father we have
become used to seeing
Both Princess Anne and Prince William, who is
known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, have been invested in the
Order of the Thistle in 2001 and 2012 respectively
The mood was sombre, marking the serious nature of the service, which appoints people the highest honour in Scotland
The Queen wore a white brocade dress under her splendid green velvet mantle
Wearing a brocade white dress under her regalia the Queen looked contemplative as she walked alongside members of her family.
So cumbersome was her long mantle, a page boy, dressed in bright green, was enlisted to help hold it up at times.
The monarch, 88, was joined by her husband Prince Phillip, who looked to be in fine form following recent spells of ill health.
A sombre Prince William embraced his royal duties, leaving wife Kate and baby George at home for the day.
In
his traditional feathered hat and dripping with symbolic
embellishments, chains and rich gold tassels, the young royal was a
world away from the more relaxed, casual William the public have become
used to seeing since he became a father last year.
The Queen and Prince Phillip have been staying in Scotland this week, attending various official engagements
So cumbersome was the Queen's long mantle, a page boy, dressed in bright green, was enlisted to help hold it up at times
Full of pomp and circumstance, the service sees the royal party process to Parliament square, to the chapel and to the Cathedral
Prince William and the royals wore traditional hats for the service, complete with impressive plumage
This year the Queen has chosen Lord Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home to receive the great honour
A guard of honour was mounted at the cathedral
door by the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's bodyguard for
Scotland, while the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played in
West Parliament Square
William is known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, and was installed into the Order of the Thistle in 2012.
The Princess Royal, who was herself invested in the Order of the Thistle in June 2001, also joined the group.
A
guard of honour was mounted at the cathedral door by the Royal Company
of Archers, the Queen's bodyguard for Scotland, while the band of the
Royal Regiment of Scotland played in West Parliament Square.
The
Royal Family were accompanied by other members of the Order of the
Thistle, including Lord Robertson of Port Ellen and Lord Cullen of
Whitekirk, who wore ceremonial gowns.
The
Order of the Thistle honours men and women who have held public office
or who have contributed in a significant way to national life and is the
highest honour in Scotland and is second only in precedence in the UK
to the Order of the Garter.
The Royal Family were accompanied by other
members of the Order of the Thistle, including Lord Robertson of Port
Ellen and Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, who wore ceremonial gowns
The Queen and the royal party are accompanied to
the Signet Libabry by the Chancellor of the Thistle, the Dean of the
Thistle and the Secretary of the Thistle where they join the rest of the
Order in the procession to the chapel
As they were driven to the lunch, William and Anne shared a giggle in the back of the royal car
Steeped
in ancient traditions, the service features an impressive service in
Parliament square where, accompanied by by the Band of the Royal
Regiment of Scotland, the Queen and the royal party are accompanied to
the Signet Libabry by the Chancellor of the Thistle, the Dean of the
Thistle and the Secretary of the Thistle.
They then join the rest of the Order in the procession to the chapel.
The
Knights of the Thistle starts with a private service where the Queen
will install the newly appointed Members of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scotland upon Lord Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home.
The rest of the service then commences after a second process into the cathedral.
Lord
Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home were installed during a ceremony
conducted by the Dean of the Thistle, Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan, in the
cathedral's Thistle Chapel.
A
leading business figure in Scotland, Lord Smith of Kelvin has been
chairman of the organising committee of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth
Games since February 2008.
Conservative
peer the Earl of Home is a former chairman of the private bank Coutts
& Co, and chairman of the Grosvenor Group.
The installation proceedings in the chapel were broadcast to a congregation of hundreds of invited guests.
The
following service, which included prayers, readings and hymns, lasted
about 45 minutes and featured music by the choir of St Giles' Cathedral.
Prince William and his aunt Princess Anne were driven to Holyrood Palace after the service for a lunch hosted by the Queen
Large crowds watched as the Royal Family's
motorcade made its way from Parliament Square down the Royal Mile
towards Holyrood Palace
The
national anthem was sung at the end of the ceremony before the
procession left the cathedral to return to the Signet Library.
Large
crowds watched as the Royal Family's motorcade made its way from
Parliament Square down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood Palace where the
Queen hosts a lunch.
The
Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland and
honours men and women who have held have worked in public office or have
contributed to the Scottish nation.
It was established by James II in 1687 with a statutory foundation
In
1688, the Order fell into disuse following James II's abdication until
it was revived by Queen Anne in 1703. The number of knights remained at
12.
The
patron saint of the Order of the Thistle is St Andrew, the patron saint
of Scotland, who also appears on the Order's badge. The motto is 'Nemo
me impune lacessit' (No one harms me with impunity).
DM
DM
No comments:
Post a Comment