King Charles III has commenced his annual Royal Week in Edinburgh, an event dedicated to celebrating Scottish culture, community, and achievements. The monarch's visit, traditionally held each July and also known as Holyrood Week, began with the historic Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, his official residence in the Scottish capital.
Upon his arrival by helicopter, King Charles was greeted by a guard of honour from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland. During the Ceremony of the Keys, held in the palace gardens, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, formally presented the city's keys to the King on a red cushion. The King symbolically touched the keys before returning them to the Lord Provost for safekeeping, a gesture affirming the city's trust and the monarch's confidence in its stewardship.
Before the main ceremony, the palace grounds were transformed into a parade area where the King met senior military and uniformed personnel. He received a royal salute and inspected a guard of honour from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King's ceremonial bodyguards in Scotland. Music for the occasion was provided by the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
This visit follows King Charles's recent role in opening the new session of the Scottish Parliament on Saturday. That significant event saw the Crown of Scotland escorted along the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle, with a fanfare performed by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland brass ensemble in the debating chamber, marking the seventh session of Holyrood since its establishment in 1999.
Throughout the week, King Charles will undertake further engagements, including an investiture ceremony and a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He will be joined by Queen Camilla, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal. Among those set to receive honours are forensic scientist Lorna Dawson, who was awarded a damehood, and New Seekers singer Eve Graham, who will become an MBE for her contributions to the music industry. Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is also scheduled to receive a knighthood for his work in botany, conservation, and horticulture.