Guard of honour, gun salute and ceremonial duties on display as Royal Week begins

A guard of honour, military bands and a 21-gun Royal Salute marked the start of Royal Week in Scotland as the King arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for the annual Ceremony of the Keys.

Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, provided the guard of honour in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, with musical support from the pipes, drums and bugles of 2 SCOTS and the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. 

Simultaneously, at Edinburgh Castle, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery fired a 21 Royal Gun Salute as the King arrived at the palace, with musical accompaniment from Royal Marines Band Scotland.

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The standard Royal Gun Salute is 21 rounds, normally fired at 10-second intervals using blank ammunition. 

Extra rounds are added at some locations, including Royal Parks in London, but Edinburgh Castle fired the standard 21 rounds for the King's arrival.

F Company, Scots Guards also mounted guard at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle ahead of the King's official annual visit to Scotland.

Senior military representatives included the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Bob Bruce, Air Officer Scotland Air Commodore Mark Northover, and Navy Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland Brigadier Andy Muddiman.

Ceremony of the Keys

The ceremony marks the monarch's official arrival in Edinburgh, heralding a week-long celebration of Scottish culture and traditions, where the Lord Provost symbolically presents the keys to the city.

The tradition marks the official start of Royal Week, a period when the King spends time engaging with the Scottish people and participating in various events across the country.

The King is offered the keys to the city by the Lord Provost during the ceremony and returns them as a gesture of faith in the local administration.

The Ceremony of the Keys is a public event, allowing residents and visitors to witness the historic ritual.