A former Perth and Kinross councillor became the first person in Scottish Parliament to swear allegiance to King Charles III after she was appointed as a new Conservative MSP.
Last week Roz McCall took the oath to the new King as she was sworn in as MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife through the regional list system, following the resignation of Tory colleague Dean Lockhart.
In her first speech at Holyrood, she praised Queen Elizabeth for her commitment to unity rather than division and vowed to live up to her example.
It came during nearly three hours of tributes to the late Queen on the first normal day of business since the parliament was suspended following her death.
Taking the oath in front of presiding officer Alison Johnstone, Mrs McCall swore to “be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors according to law”.
Mrs McCall referred to the Queen’s Christmas broadcast in 1974, when people were facing cost of living pressures similar to today, when she told the people of the UK: “There are indeed real dangers and there are real fears and we will never overcome them if we turn against each other with angry accusations.
“We may hold different points of view but it is in times of stress and difficulty that we most need to remember that we have much more in common than there is dividing us.”
Mrs McCall said: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your words of wisdom.
“I hope to work to your example.
“Rest in peace, Ma’am, and God save the King.”
Her speech was met by applause from across the chamber.
Deputy first minister and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney referred to the crowds who lined the streets to pay tribute to the Queen when her coffin was transported from Deeside to Edinburgh, and then on to London.
He said: “It has been widely recognised that, from the moment that Her Majesty’s cortege left the gates of Balmoral Castle to the moment that she left Scotland for the last time, our country paid due, respectful and appropriate tribute to Her Majesty the Queen and her deep association with Scotland.”
He added: "Her Majesty the Queen clearly loved Scotland and, in the days after her death, the people of Scotland demonstrated that they reciprocated that love for Her Majesty the Queen."
The tributes were snubbed by the SNP’s coalition colleagues in the Scottish Greens, with none of its MSPs contributing in the chamber.
Afterwards Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Some tremendous speeches and tributes to her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth at the Scottish parliament from across the political spectrum - the SNP, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and Scottish Liberal Democrats.
“A little disappointing that one party is entirely absent.”
