The day after Queen Elizabeth attended the historic Ceremony of the Keys, the monarch took in a military parade at the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her home in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Armed Forces Act of Loyalty Parade took place on Tuesday both to celebrate the Scottish Armed Forces, as well as the queen’s recent Platinum Jubilee. The whole affair began with a royal salute as the queen entered wearing a purple heather silk wool dress, coat, and matching hat, all made by her personal dresser and longtime assistant, Angela Kelly. The royal also used her walking cane as she has been experiencing ongoing mobility issues, but smiled broadly throughout the parade, waving to the crowds and military as they passed.
The parade also included a presentation of the key to Edinburgh Castle. Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, received the key and then presented it to the queen along with three cadets from the Army, Navy and Air Force. As per tradition, when presenting the key, the Major General told the royal, “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.” And in response, the monarch said, “I return this key to the safekeeping of My Governor of Edinburgh Castle, in gratitude for the symbolic Act of Loyalty of Our Armed Forces, confident of your faithful allegiance to your oath.” Major General Alastair Bruce is one of the queen’s most trusted aides and holds multiple roles, including Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
This ceremony was the second public affair the queen has participated in this week and since her Platinum Jubilee earlier this month. On Monday, she took an overnight trip on the Royal Train to Edinburgh where she will spend the next several days while she and other royal family member attend to various duties and celebrations. And that same morning, she attended the historic Ceremony of the Keys where she was given the keys to the city of Edinburgh and welcomed to her “ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland.” The royal was also joined at the event by her youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex. This week, the royal family will also host a garden party at Holyroodhouse which will be attended by Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Edward, and Sophie, as well as an investiture ceremony for Scottish people receiving honors from the Queen. The monarch may also hold an audience with the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, but it has yet to be confirmed.
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