Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh Current Events 22: August 2010-June 2011

[Renata4711]

Only four days until the Queen opens the Fourth Session of our Scottish Parliament !

There will be a procession from Edinburgh Castle, consisting of more than sixty groups with well over 1,000 people - down the Royal Mile - with Samba bands, pipe bands, a sports dance team. It also passes the Canongate Kirk (where we can see the Queen again soon for the wedding).

This part of the event is known as The Riding. It symbolises the meaning of the Parliament's mace - Wisdom, Justice, Compassion, Integrity - representing the ideals that Scottish people want for their Members of Parliament.

More details from the Scottish Parliament's website:
Scottish Parliament - News - Holyrood displays a tale of two ridings

 

[iceflower]

_________________


Musician Annie Lennox has been among those who received their OBEs from Queen Elizabeth at an
investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace today, June 28.


** Pic ** mirror: Annie Lennox describes OBE as "magical" ** belga gallery **



The Queen today also received Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano and his wife Clio Maria Bittoni at
Buckingham Palace:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

 

[Renata4711]

The 2011 Holyrood Week is June 30th till July 6th.

Holyrood Week

The Royal Company of Archers - part of the Queen's Household and of the Sovereign's Bodyguard since 1822.
Royal Company of Archers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[iceflower]

___________________


The Duke of Edinburgh has attended a ceremony at Buckingham Palace to mark his 90th birthday, June 30,
2011 in London. Among the guests have been Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and Prime Minister
David Cameron.


** gettyimages/zimbio gallery: Duke Of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday **


And the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the Ceremony of the Keys at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh,
Scotland today.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** daylife gallery ** belga **

 

[Renata4711]

Thank you, Iceflower !!

HM looks like the Queen of the May ..... but lovely !

And a heart-warming story from one of her fans:

Queen can bank on a full-blown welcome from Tony

When it comes to blowing his own trumpet, banker Tony Laidlaw has plenty of reason. A senior partner in asset finance .... on Lothian Road, he is also one of Her Majesty's state trumpeters in Scotland.
There are four more, and their main job is to announce the monarch's arrival by playing a fanfare at various events.

Queen can bank on a full-blown welcome from Tony - Edinburgh Evening News

 

[Renata4711]

The Chamber of the Scottish Parliament is waiting for Her Majesty to make the (very short) ride from Holyrood House.
The Royal Company of Archers are in attendance...

The Scottish Crown is processed into the chamber...it was brought earlier from Edinburgh Castle and processed down to Holyrood... I don't know who the crown bearer is.... a young man.
The MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) are taking their seats...
a school choir is singing.
Waiting for the Queen... MSPs are chattering amongst themselves....they've made an effort in the sartorial department !

Outside, the Company of Archers are looking alert.... HM must be imminent...she's wearing a light blue ensemble.....Tricia Marwick, the Presiding Officer, is escorting HM into the Parliament.....the leaders of the main political parties are standing to attention... she climbs the main stair into the Chamber....the fanfares....HM takes one of the seats normally used by the Presiding Officers.....

Tricia Marwick does her speech....quite incisive ... she wears white with blue accents.... now it's Liz's turn...

"No one would ever argue that this parliament is for the meek... the Parliament has truly come of age....the Mace was used first in 1999....

"Thou western wind" is sung by Karine Polwart... a Rabbie Burns number...

Words by the Scots Makar Edwin Morgan ... read by another Makar, Liz Lochhead...
The First Minister, Alex Salmond gives a speech .... with allusions about the forthcoming wedding of her granddaughter.

Another song, and the Presiding Officer closes this meeting of Parliament, to the sound of the Queen's Trumpeters.

 

[iceflower]

The Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh during the Crown Ceremony to officially open
the fourth session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland July 1, 2011.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** gettyimages/reuters/daylife ** belga **

video: Queen opens Scottish Parliament

 

[roseroyal]

the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the Ceremony of the Keys at Holyrood Palace.
** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

Dislike the outfit! The color combo and the hat!

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during the Crown Ceremony to officially open the fourth session of the Scottish Parliament
** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ2GLasCoCs&feature=player_embedded#at=12

Ah, that is a much better outfit, Your Majesty!

 

[Mia_mae]

Here is the video for the 1st part of the ceremony
YouTube - ‪Royal Opening of Scottish Parliament 2011 - part 1 of 2‬‏

 

[iceflower]

__________________


The Queen, in her role as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, presented the new
Colours to the battalions of the regiment at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, Scotland July 2, 2011.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** gettyimages/reuters/daylife ** belga gallery ** belga 2 **


** BBC: Queen to present Colours to regiment **

 

[Renata4711]

'Colours': The Symbol of a regiment
By Major David Goodacre (1 SCOTS)

This is an interesting "extension" to the very recent coverage of "Trooping the Colour".

BBC News - 'Colours': The symbol of a regiment

And an article on the Royal Regiment of Scotland, a new Scottish "super regiment" replacing several regiments:

Royal Regiment of Scotland, Scottish Division, Army

 

[Zonk]

Time for a new thread, which can be found here