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In a bright yellow outfit and wearing sunglasses to protect her eyes following a cataract operation, the Queen was handed the keys of the city and welcomed by Frank Ross, Edinburgh’s Lord Provost.
Tradition dictates that the Queen is symbolically offered the keys to the city by the Lord Provost and she then returns them, entrusting their safekeeping to Edinburgh’s elected officials On the palace forecourt, a guard of honour was formed by Balaklava Company, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Pipes and drums were provided by The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland with music by the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Over the next few days her diary is packed with audiences, an investiture, a garden party, a military parade in Leuchars, Fife, a reception and the annual Order of the Thistle service at Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral.
Although the Queen’s workload has lightened as she has grown older, few would be able to keep up her pace.
Last week her cold led to her pulling out of a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, following nine appearances in 10 days.
But after a long weekend at her favourite royal residence, Windsor Castle, she was firmly back on duty.
Last summer Prince Philip, who is now 97, retired from official public duties, but although she will continue to pare back her public appearances, retirement is not an option for the Queen.
She and Philip have outlived most of their friends and many of their closest aides.
The funeral of Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis, 79, who served as Philip’s private secretary between 1993 and 2010, was held yesterday. He died on May 23.
Philip did not attend the former Gurkha officer’s funeral in Warminster, Wiltshire, but was represented by another former Army officer, Lieutenant General Peter Pearson.
The Queen was represented by Lord Janvrin, her former private secretary.
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