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King Charles launches Holyrood Week events in Edinburgh

Reuters King Charles III wearing a grey suit with a white shirt and red and green striped tie. He is walking through the Palace Guard - a line of soldiers, wearing black uniforms.Reuters
King Charles III was greeted by musicians from the Royal Regiment of Scotland and senior military and uniformed figures

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Edinburgh for a series of events to mark Holyrood Week - the annual royal celebration of Scottish culture, community and achievements.

The King's first engagement was the traditional Ceremony of the Keys in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, his official residence in the Scottish capital.

It took place shortly after the Royal couple arrived by helicopter.

The monarch traditionally spends a week each July in Edinburgh but last year the programme was shortened by the general election.

The King was presented with the keys by Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge, who held them out on a red cushion, which the monarch symbolically touched.

He will later hold an investiture ceremony and garden party at the palace, at the foot of the Royal Mile, alongside Queen Camilla.

Those receiving honours will include Scotland's most decorated Olympian Duncan Scott (OBE), double Paralympic swimming champion Stephen Clegg (MBE) and artist Barbara Rae (Damehood).

Reuters King Charles III wearing a grey suit and white shirt places his hand on a red cushion held by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge, wo wears glasses and a navy blue suit. In the background, lines of soldiers in military uniforms are blurred.Reuters
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge presents the keys to the City of Edinburgh to King Charles III during the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
PA Media Lines of soldiers and military personnel wearing uniforms in the gardens on the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Arthur Seat is in the background and a helicopter is in the sky. PA Media
The palace gardens were transformed into a parade ground

Before the ceremony, the palace's gardens were transformed into a parade ground and the King met senior military and uniformed figures.

He then received a royal salute before inspecting a Guard of Honour of soldiers from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland.

Also lined up was the Palace Guard made up of soldiers from Balaklava Company, 5 Scots, and the High Constables of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

PA Media Swimmer Duncan Scott wearing a beige jacket and tie receives an OBE from King Charles who is wearing a dark-coloured jacket.PA Media
Scotland's most decorated Olympian Duncan Scott receives an OBE for services to swimming

Duncan Scott, who won his eighth Olympic medal at the Paris Games last year, said receiving an OBE for services to swimming was a "special moment".

Recently the 28-year-old gave evidence in parliament calling on MSPs to recognise the value of swimming pools and provide financial relief to keep them open.

He is also an ambassador for Scottish Swimming's Learn to Swim programme.

"You don't do sport for the recognition. You do it for things that you want to achieve, either individually or as part of a team," he said.

"But there is that added element that it's really humbling and really nice to be recognised for the hard work that you've put in."

PA Media Swimmer Stephen Clegg wearing a grey suit shakes King Charles' hand. He is wearing a black jacket with a pale-coloured shirt and gold belt.PA Media
Double Paralympic champion swimmer Stephen Clegg receives an MBE

Paralympian Stephen Clegg, who won two gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, described being made an MBE as a "huge honour".

The swimmer, who has a visual impairment and swims in the S12 category, said the recognition "puts a spotlight on not just the sport as a whole, but sport for the disabled community".

He said as a child he struggled with "all the barriers and limitations" people had placed on him and that swimming had allowed him to prove them wrong.

PA Media A woman with red-coloured hair wearing a black and white hat and black blazer shakes King Charles' hand. He is wearing a dark-coloured jacket. PA Media
Barbara Rae was awarded a damehood for services to art in the New Years Honours

Falkirk-born artist Dame Barbara Rae said her damehood for services to art was a "really quite rare accolade".

The painter and printmaker studied at Edinburgh College of Art and went on to teach art in secondary schools, then lecture at Aberdeen College of Education and Glasgow School of Art.

The 81-year-old's work has been exhibited around the world, including at venues in New York and Hong Kong.

She said she hopes her damehood will inspire up-and-coming artists.

Retired solicitor Kevin Hay was also made an MBE after spending 17 years translating the Bible into Doric - the first time the whole text has ever changed into any variant of the Scots language.

The Old Testament was published last year while the New Testament was released in 2012, comprising more than 800,000 words between them.

He said he was "absolutely delighted" to have been recognised for his work.

"When I was at school, you got belted if you spoke Scots of any kind, even one Scots word, and you could get the belt," he said.

"And here's now a recognition for doing something in that very language. So it's great."

PA Media A man in a navy blue suit and colourful tie and a woman with long brown hair and a green dress greet writer Sir Ian Rankin, who wears a black suit with a navy blue tie and official medal, and Queen Camilla, wearing a black and white polka-dot dress with a white collar.PA Media
Queen Camilla and writer Sir Ian Rankin officially launched newly-built Ratho Library in Newbridge
PA Media Queen Camilla in Ratho Library smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black and white polka dot dress with a white collar.PA Media
Queen Camilla met librarians, writers and figures from Edinburgh's annual literary festival
PA Media Queen Camilla wearing a black and white polka dot dress with a white collar received a bouquet of white flowers from two young girls. A woman standing behind the girls looks at them smiling.PA Media
Queen Camilla received flowers from local schoolchildren after the opening

Queen Camilla officially opened Ratho Library in Newbridge near Edinburgh Airport, alongside Scottish crime author Sir Ian Rankin.

She was greeted by librarians, local schoolchildren, young writers and poets, and figures from Edinburgh's annual literary festival.

It marked the launch of a five-year initiative by the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh City Libraries to promote literature in local communities.