King hails ‘uniquely special’ Scotland

The King hailed the “uniquely special place” Scotland holds in his family’s hearts as he celebrated the “enduring relationship” between its parliament, its people and the crown.

The monarch was at Holyrood to mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.

As they arrived at Holyrood on Saturday morning, the King and Queen were met by Alison Johnstone, Holyrood’s Presiding Officer, and Liam McArthur and Annabelle Ewing, the Deputy Presiding Officers.

The royal couple then greeted Holyrood’s party leaders – John Swinney, First Minister and head of the SNP; Russell Findlay, Scottish Conservative leader; Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader; Lorna Slater, Scottish Green co-leader,  and Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader .

Mr Swinney said the ceremony marked “25 years in which the Scottish Parliament has changed lives for the better”.

The First Minister, who was wearing a kilt in Ancient Hunter tartan in honour of his late mother – whose maiden name was Hunter, told how since its formation “this Parliament has been the voice of Scotland”.

Mr Swinney, who has served continuously as an MSP since the first Holyrood elections in 1999, spoke of the “unending possibilities of Scottish self government”.

He said: “For 25 years Scotland has grown in confidence as she raised up this new institution at her very heart.”

The First Minister continued: “This Parliament has been steadfast in its compassion for the most vulnerable in society, and full of aspiration for the advancement of all.

“In the next quarter century it is my hope that Scotland’s democratic institutions continue to evolve and break new ground.

“I hope Scotland will continue to shine as a beacon of enlightenment across stormy seas, a refuge for reason in the world, a wellspring of modern thought and creativity.”

Earlier, Ms Johnstone recalled the “excitement and aspirations of the people of Scotland” when the Parliament opened 25 years ago.

She told the King: “Your presence here today, as we mark this significant milestone, demonstrates your continuing commitment.

“We are grateful for the encouragement and counsel that we have received over these last 25 years from the late Queen and from you.”

With the Scottish Parliament building –  which is now 20 years old –  being sited across from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the royal’s family’s residence in Edinburgh, the Presiding Officer added that she hoped they found their “relatively newish neighbours agreeable”.

At the end of the ceremony, the King and Queen spent time talking to some of the ordinary Scots who had been invited to the ceremony as “local heroes” by MSPs.

The couple then signed a visitor book in front of a picture of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who the KIng was with at the opening ceremony for the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

In an address to the chamber, watched by the Queen, he recalled witnessing his late mother, Elizabeth II, formally open the parliament in 1999, a moment he described as a “new dawn” and a “turning point”.

But as he looked ahead to the next quarter of a century and beyond, he warned “there remains much more to be done for Scotland, for the United Kingdom” and in addressing the dangers of climate change.

The King spoke fondly of his affection for the country, with its vast and varied landscape.

“We are all, at the end of each day, united by our love of Scotland,” he said.

“Because of its natural beauty, of course, but also because of its strength of character, based as it is on the extraordinary diversity of its peoples, whose range of ideas, skills, energy, passions, and frequently deeply held beliefs, never cease to inspire me.”

“From the central belt, to the north Highlands, across the islands, in Ayrshire, in the Borders, the cities, towns, and villages, or the coastal communities, who, I wonder, could not fail to be moved by this complex Caledonian kaleidoscope?”

He added: “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.”

His words echoed those of the late Queen as she addressed the chamber on July 1, 1999 and lauded the “grit, determination and humour” of Scottish people, qualities that she said occupied “a personal place in my own and my family’s affections”.

The King said that moment was “a landmark in a long, rich and complex story which we have shared over many centuries.”

The opening of the parliament was a great yet daunting prospect, he added, with the hopes of a nation resting on the shoulders of each newly elected MP, 13 of whom remain today.

In the intervening years, he acknowledged, much has changed but Scottish values remain steadfast.

“From that day until this, through its work over a quarter of a century, this place has not just thrived but, in doing so, has borne witness to the enduring relationship between the Parliament, the Crown and the people of Scotland,” he said.

“Let this moment therefore be the beginning of the next chapter.

“The achievement of the past and the commitment shown in the present give us the soundest basis for confidence in the future.”