The party ain’t over yet for King Charles III, who is set for the next part of his coronation when he receives the Scottish crown jewels on Wednesday.
The monarch is in Edinburgh for the ceremony at which he will receive a crown and sceptre inside St Giles’ Cathedral. Charles III became Scotland’s king on the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September and his coronation was last May.
The event on July 5 will strengthen Charles’s ceremonial ties to Scotland, which will balance his traditionally stronger links to Wales. And while many Scots are welcoming the visit, there have also been protests about the occasion.
Here is the lowdown.
When is the Scottish coronation?
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are in Edinburgh on July 5 to receive the Scottish crown jewels. The ceremony will begin around 2pm.
What will happen during the coronation?
The Scottish crown jewels will be taken from their safekeep in Edinburgh Castle to St Giles’ Cathedral in a procession down the Royal Mile in the city centre. This march will involve around 700 members of the armed forces and 100 Scottish dignitaries.
Then, from around 2pm, Charles and Camilla will get into a car at their official Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to drive along another procession where they will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Wellwishers can expect music from bagpipe players from Charles’s former school Gordonstoun and the ceremonial Stone of Destiny will be on show.
The Church of Scotland ceremony will be led by the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton and the King and Queen will receive the crown jewels before a gun firing at Edinburgh Castle and a flypast from the Red Arrows.
Why is the King being crowned in Scotland?
Scotland has its own ceremonial crown jewels that the King will receive. They include the Crown of Scotland, which was created in 1540 for James V. Charles will also receive a new sword named after Queen Elizabeth II, who attended a similar ceremony in Edinburgh 70 years ago in 1953.
Why are there protests?
Many of Scotland’s leading politicians have republican views and are not happy that Charles is the country’s figurehead. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, will attend the St Giles’ service despite his republican views but Scottish Green leaders, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, will not.
The pair will instead address a rally taking place outside Holyrood organised by pressure group Our Republic. The anti-monarchy group Republic will stage a similar protest at the cathedral.
