Queen Camilla dons Diamond Thistle Brooch from Queen Elizabeth II's collection as she joins King Charles at Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary
Queen Camilla paid homage to Scottish culture with Queen Mary's glittering brooch as she joined King Charles at the Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary celebration today.
King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 77, have travelled up to Edinburgh to celebrate the milestone in true Celtic style, and Camilla borrowed a poignant piece of jewellery from her late mother-in-law's collection for occasion.
The Diamond Thistle Brooch initially belonged to Queen Mary - the wife of King George V - and was passed down to her granddaughter the late Queen Elizabeth II upon her death.
It is now in the hands of Queen Camilla, who often chooses to show off the piece while north of the English border - as it has imagery relating clearly to Scotland.
Camilla wore the piece, which is in the shape of a thistle, on the front of her duck egg blue overcoat, which had a tartan collar to match the King's traditional sporran.
Queen Camilla paid homage to Scottish culture in Queen Mary's glittering brooch as she joined King Charles at the Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary celebration today
The Diamond Thistle Brooch initially belonged to Queen Mary - the wife of King George V - and was passed down to her granddaughter the late Queen Elizabeth II upon her death
The thistle is widely-regarded as the national emblem of Scotland, after author Sir Walter Scott chose it as a sigil for the visit of King George IV to the country in 1882.
The Queen has worn the brooch on previous visits to Scotland, and the late Queen Elizabeth II was spotted with the jewellery on countless occasions.
In Edinburgh today, the King and Queen were met by presiding officer Alison Johnstone and deputy presiding officers Liam McArthur and Annabelle Ewing.
The royal couple then greeted Holyrood's party leaders: First Minister and head of the SNP John Swinney, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
Addressing a host of familiar faces including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, King Charles called the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 a 'new dawn' for the country.
'This place has not just thrived' His Majesty said. 'But in doing so has borne witness to the enduring relationship between Parliament, the Crown and the people of Scotland.'
The King also praised Scotland's 'extraordinary diversity' and spoke of how the country has always had a 'uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself'.
The late Queen Elizabeth II wears the Diamond Thistle Brooch in Scotland in September 2017
The brooch is now in the hands of Queen Camilla, who often chooses to show off the piece while north of the English border - as it has imagery relating clearly to Scotland
The thistle is widely-regarded as the national emblem of Scotland, after author Sir Walter Scott chose it as a sigil for the visit of King George IV to the country in 1882
Indeed, his grandmother was Scottish and his mother, the late Queen, chose to spend her final days chose to spend her final days at her beloved Balmoral Castle.
'Who could fail to be moved by this complex, Caledonian kaleidoscope?' he declared.
Pointing to his Scottish roots, King Charles wore a bespoke tartan designed just last year by The Scottish Tartans Authority to the anniversary celebration.
With light green, navy blue and pale red running through the wool, the kilt was specially designed to mark one year since his coronation and is simply called 'The King Charles III tartan'.
Its striking design is based on the Balmoral tartan which dates back to 1850 and is woven entirely from Scottish wool in Selkirk.
His Majesty's tartan is restricted to exclusive use by members of the royal family and can only be woven under explicit written permission from the Scottish Tartans Authority under instruction from the Royal Household.
In Edinburgh today, the King and Queen were met by presiding officer Alison Johnstone and deputy presiding officers Liam McArthur and Annabelle Ewing
Addressing a host of familiar faces including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, King Charles called the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 a 'new dawn' for the country
King Charles and Queen Camilla sign the visitors book following an event at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh
Queen Camilla also dressed to impress at Holyrood today.
Her Majesty's brooch took the shape of a thistle and the feathers in her hat were reminiscent of a salmon fly fishing knot known as The Lang Syne.
Queen Camilla was seen clapping politely throughout the celebration, while King Charles seemed to enjoy various performances of Scottish music, song and poetry.
After speeches from all sides of the political spectrum came to an end, Ms Johnstone, the Presiding Officer, closed the ceremony by thanking the royal couple for attending.
She said: 'Thank you your Majesties for sharing this significant milestone with us. Thank you to our fantastic musicians and peformers.'
The King and The Queen left the chamber to the sounds of Scottish Parliament Piper Stuart McMillian MSP who played Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen.
This afternoon Their Majesties will meet with groups of local heroes nominated by their MSPs for extraordinary contribution to their communities in the main hall of the Scottish Parliament.
One such hero is Michael Coutts who has spearheaded the Dogs Against Drugs charity in Shetland for two decades.
The King has warned of the dangers of climate change as he marked the 'important' 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.
The King also praised Scotland's 'extraordinary diversity' and spoke of how the country has always had a 'uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself'
The King has warned of the dangers of climate change as he marked the 'important' 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.
Charles addressed the chamber during a visit to Holyrood with the Queen on Saturday, saying the parliament can 'touch and improve the lives of so many individuals'.
He also mentioned that Scotland has a 'uniquely special place' in the hearts of his family, saying Queen Elizabeth II 'treasured the time spent at Balmoral'.
The King said the opening of the Scottish Parliament 25 years ago was 'a turning point' and that Saturday’s anniversary 'is an important milestone'.
He went on: 'As we look ahead to the next quarter of a century and beyond, there remains much more to be done for Scotland, for the United Kingdom, and equally, in addressing the challenges we all share as inhabitants of a planet whose climate is changing dangerously, and whose biodiversity is being seriously depleted.
'Let this moment therefore be the beginning of the next chapter.
Her Majesty's brooch took the shape of a thistle and the feathers in her hat were reminiscent of a salmon fly fishing knot known as The Lang Syne
Charles addressed the chamber during a visit to Holyrood with the Queen on Saturday, saying the parliament can 'touch and improve the lives of so many individuals'
'The achievement of the past and the commitment shown in the present give us the soundest basis for confidence in the future.'
Charles said the parliament has 'thrived' and referred to the ceremonial mace, saying it has qualities such as 'wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity' engraved on it.
He went on: 'We are often told that we live in an era of polarisation and division. If that is so, then it is perhaps even more important, not less, that in the vital areas of representation, of political debate, of policy making and of discourse, these values, together with hope, civility and generosity of spirit, are never far from the heart of even the most difficult of issues.
Charles said the parliament has 'thrived' and referred to the ceremonial mace, saying it has qualities such as 'wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity' engraved on it
The King also hailed Scotland’s 'natural beauty' and 'strength of character'
'It seems to me that such an approach is why this parliament has grown in its experience, in its ability to touch and to improve the lives of so many individuals and communities throughout this great land.'
The King also hailed Scotland’s 'natural beauty' and 'strength of character'.
He added: 'From the central belt to the north Highlands, across the islands, in Ayrshire, in the Borders, the cities, towns and villages, all the coastal communities, who I wonder, could not fail to be moved by this complex Caledonian kaleidoscope?
'Speaking from a personal perspective, Scotland has always had a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself.
'My beloved grandmother was proudly Scottish, my late mother especially treasured the time spent at Balmoral, and it was there in the most beloved of places, where she chose to spend her final days.'
