The Queen has officially arrived in Scotland for Royal Week, attending the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse this morning with her youngest son and daughter-in-law.
- The Queen has officially made it to Scotland for Royal Week, after much speculation over whether or not the 96-year-old monarch would attend the annual event.
- Her Majesty smiled broadly as she participated in the Ceremony of the Keys wearing a blue coat and Scottish jewelry alongside Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Monday.
- In other royal news, Prince Charles to continue Prince Philip’s passion with exciting new patronage.
The Queen has traveled to Scotland to kick off its annual Royal Week, bringing a welcome end to speculation about her attendance at this year's event.
Her Majesty was all smiles as she joined her youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie Wessex, for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Monday morning.
The exciting appearance marks the 96-year-old's first public engagement in Scotland since her opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament last October. She has also made private visits to Caledonia in recent months, including a short stay at her Highlands holiday home of Balmoral Castle in May ahead of her Platinum Jubilee.
Shortly after arriving at Holyroodhouse today, the Queen participated in the Ceremony of the Keys on the property's famous forecourt.
Queen at the Ceremony of the Keys on 27 June 2022
As per tradition, Her Majesty is offered the keys to Edinburgh by the Lord Provost and welcomed to "your ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland." She then returns them for safekeeping, after declaring she is "perfectly convinced" that they could be in "no better hands" than the "Lord Provost and Councillors of my good City of Edinburgh."
The Queen dressed fittingly for the ancient custom, wearing a pale blue coat and matching silk dress by Stewart Parvin with a floral pastel blue Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat. She also paid tribute to Scottish culture and history with her jewelry, adorning her elegant outfit with a brooch from Argyll and Sutherland.
The historic piece, which was pinned alongside a second stunning brooch, once belonged to a former regiment of the British Army that has now been amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland. She also carried her trusty cane, which she has now used multiple times in public for mobility support, as well as a classic black handbag.
At one point, a royal officer stood over the Queen with a sheer umbrella to keep her dry against the drizzling rain. Never one to let the bad weather dampen her mood, the monarch continued smiling broadly as the ceremony unfolded in front of her.
Other senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince William and Kate Middleton, are expected to join the Queen, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex in Scotland over the next few days for a line-up of exciting royal engagements.
