Queen Elizabeth II made her first public appearances since her platinum jubilee earlier this month at a ceremony and then a military parade in Scotland.
Her first official trip since the jubilee, which is partly in celebration of Elizabeth’s yearlong platinum anniversary and partly in honor of Scotland, is part of the annual Holyrood Week in which the royal family attends ceremonies and celebrations in Scotland to honor the work, culture, and community of the Scottish people. Although the weeklong visit is traditional, this year’s trip comes as Buckingham Palace has kept the queen’s in-person schedule to a minimum as the 96-year-old monarch struggles with what has been described as “mobility issues” that stem from a hospitalization last fall.
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The parade on Tuesday included the presentation of the key to Edinburgh Castle, during which Maj. Gen. Alastair Bruce, the governor of Edinburgh Castle, presented the key to the queen, alongside three cadets from the royal army, navy, and air force.
Britain Royals“We, the serving members of Your Majesty’s Armed Forces, bound by our oath to You, your Heirs and Successors, offer for Your gracious acceptance the Key to Your Majesty’s Royal Castle of Edinburgh,” Bruce told the queen, according to Vanity Fair. Elizabeth responded by returning the key to Bruce for safekeeping.
The queen, who used a walking cane, witnessed the parade from the garden of her residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where she is expected to remain until Friday. The monarch has been delegating her appearances and royal duties to other members of the royal family after health issues began surfacing last October and has conducted other responsibilities virtually, including meeting ambassadors and other heads of state.
“The fact that she wanted to take part in both the arrival ceremony and now she’s here in her palace in the centre of Edinburgh and coming out into the garden to see her armed forces is really special,” Bruce told the BBC.
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The queen is expected to be joined by her eldest son, the heir apparent, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla, her daughter Anne, the princess royal, and her youngest son Prince Edward for a garden party at Holyrood. Prince Andrew will not be in attendance. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie also accompanied the queen to a key-of-the-city ceremony Monday.
The royal family is expected to host an investiture ceremony for the Scottish people receiving honors from the queen. Included in those receiving honors are James McGoldrick, the assistant general secretary of the United Nations, and Ross McEwan, the chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, according to the BBC.
