UNIONIST MSPs have fumed over “nationalist nonsense” after an “anti-monarchist” poem was read out in front of King Charles at the opening of the Scottish Parliament session.
Charles gave a speech on Saturday to mark the beginning of Holyrood’s seventh session since it was established in 1999, where he encouraged debate to be “carried out with respect and courtesy”.
As part of the opening ceremony, the National Theatre of Scotland read a short poem shortly after the King’s speech, where they outlined the British Empire's colonial history.
Imagine that. Go all over the world and you'll meet a Scot,” one of the four actors said.
Another replied: “How's that, always on the right side of history, we were.”
The first actor said: “Oh, yeah. You mean the British Empire?”
The second replied: “Not that side of history, the other side of history.”
Actor one said: “Oh, you mean the plantations?”
The second actor replied: “No, not that side of history. The other side of history.”
The first actor said: “Oh, right. The racism?”
Actor two replied: “Yeah, no, not that side of history. The other side of history.”
The first actor then said: “Oh, you mean Darien, the new world, the shipbuilding, the shipbuilding.”
To which the second actor then replied: “For the slaves?”
The first actor then said: “No, not that side of history, the, the other side of history, it's not what I meant, you're twisting my words, suiting yourself, telling your own version, not the right version.”
Unionist MSPs have fumed over 'nationalist nonsense' after an 'anti-monarchist' poem was read out in front of King Charles at the opening of the Scottish Parliament's new session pic.twitter.com/wUsh47cxT4
— The National (@ScotNational) June 27, 2026
To which the second actor said: “Well, what is the right version?”
A third actor then added: “Those days are past now, and in the past, they.”
During the exchange, some MSPs could be heard laughing while others sat and watched on in bewilderment.
After the ceremony, Reform MSP Thomas Kerr took to social media to fume over the National Theatre of Scotland’s performance, branding it a “caused embarrassment” for the country.
He wrote: “Today was the opening of the new session of the Scottish Parliament with His Majesty, King Charles.
“However, questions need to be asked about the anti-British, anti-monarchist poem read out by the National Theatre of Scotland.
“Whoever thought that was a good idea, has caused embarrassment for Scotland.”
Reform MSP Mark Simpson also called the performance woke nonsense, adding that it was completely shameful.
He said: “In the presence of the King, our history, customs & the British Empire were slandered - Britain was even called a racist country
“It marred what should have been a proud and dignified State Opening of Parliament.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay also aired his disgust at the “nationalist nonsense”
He said: “An honour to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla as they officially opened the new session of the Scottish Parliament.
“Just unfortunate that some nationalist nonsense seeped into proceedings.”
First Minister, John Swinney, also gave a speech at the ceremony where he said that with “uncertainty fuelling deep, personal anxiety, powerful forces bent on division, new politics is, for us, the basis for a renewed hope”.
He added: “The question today is will we, collectively, live out the new culture of politics that was part of the founding promise, indeed the founding spirit of this place?”
Swinney’s speech was followed by a reading from Scotland’s makar Pàdraig MacAoidh, who delivered a poem in Gaelic called Let This Hall Be Full Of Noises.
Harpist Rachel Groves and vocalist Ellie Beaton performed Robert Burns’s Ae Fond Kiss.
To close the meeting, the Parliament’s piper, MSP Stuart McMillan, performed Bonnie Dundee and a Hundred Pipers in the members’ garden as the King and Queen departed.
