King Charles III officially began Royal Week in Scotland with the traditional Ceremony of the Keys in Edinburgh. The King, who opened the Scottish Parliament on Saturday, appeared in good spirits as he arrived for his annual week-long stay at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
During the ceremony in the palace gardens, a guard of honor was provided by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, accompanied by the King's personal bodyguard, the Royal Company of Archers. Music was performed by the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, presented the keys to the city to the King on a red cushion. Aldridge welcomed His Majesty to the capital of his "ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland" and offered the keys for his "gracious acceptance."
King Charles responded by stating he returned the keys, "perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and councillors of my good city of Edinburgh." The King was seen in a grey suit, adorned with a blue cornflower in his lapel, a symbol often associated with his environmental advocacy.
The cornflower, a flower now endangered in its natural habitat, has frequently appeared in the monarch's attire and draws attention to his environmental concerns. He previously spoke about the planet's changing climate and depleting biodiversity when opening the Scottish Parliament on Saturday.