THE King came face-to-face with a new Queen of Scotland as he kicked off four-days north of the border ahead of a major service to celebrate his crowning.
Charles, 74, spoke to 11-year-old Lexi Scotland, wearing her robe and carrying a mock regalia, sash and robe, after she was crowned Fair Queen at the Bo’ness, last week.
King Charles spoke to 11-year-old Lexi Scotland, crowned queen of Bo’ness Fair, an annual event for childrenCredit: PA
The King’s trip to Falkirk is his first engagement in Scotland since his crowningCredit: PA
The King’s trip to Falkirk yesterday – to celebrate famed engineer James Watt – is his first engagement in Scotland since his crowning at Westminster Abbey two months ago
It comes ahead of tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The King and Queen will be joined by Prince William and Kate for an hour-long ceremony where they will be presented with the Scottish Crown Jewels – called the ‘Honours of Scotland’
It will be preceded with a Royal Procession with pipes and drums from Palace of Holyroodhouse and a People’s Procession from Edinburgh Castle, consisting of around 100 representatives from Scottish charities and local organisations.
The day of celebration will be topped off with a RAF flypast over Edinburgh – with the royals appearing on a balcony at Holyroodhouse.
The co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, have rejected an invitation to the service of thanksgiving.
Mr Harvie will instead speak at a rally outside Holyrood organised by the anti-monarchy group Our Republic.
The King attended a reception at the Royal Yacht Britannia to mark 25 years since her arrival in Edinburgh.