Queen to formally open fifth session of Scottish Parliament

The Queen will formally open the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament tomorrow as part of a day of celebrations.

At around 10am the crown of Scotland will be transported down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Parliament accompanied by the 3SCOTS (Black Watch) pipes and drums.

The Queen will address the Parliament at 11am as part of a formal opening ceremony, which will be followed by a riding procession on the Royal Mile.

RELATED CONTENT

Fiona Hyslop: 'Scotland has never been narrow in its perspective' - exclusive interview

Q&A with Scotland's female political leaders

Interview with Scottish Parliament presiding officer Ken Macintosh

The Scots Makar, Jackie Kay, will read a new poem, Threshold, for the occasion, while the Scottish Youth Theatre will recite the Edwin Morgan poem Open the Doors!, which Morgan wrote to celebrate the opening of the parliament building in 2004.

Midge Ure will perform the Robert Burn’s song A Man’s a Man for A’ That and there will be music from the National Youth Choir of Scotland and Royal Scottish National Orchestra Ensemble.

Around 2,500 people will take part in the riding at 12 noon, which will be led by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS Band) along with community groups including Shetland Vikings, Polish, Punjabi and Highland dancers, pipe and brass bands, choirs and a Chinese dragon. 

Over 60 'local heroes', who have been nominated by their MSPs for their contributions to Scottish life, will also take part in the riding.

The riding will be followed by family fun day, Holyrood’s Big Day Out, in the grounds of the Scottish Parliament.

Full details of the day can be found on the Scottish Parliament’s website.