The Queen is set to officially open the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament during a ceremony in Edinburgh later today.
The monarch, 95, will be joined by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (Prince Charles and Camila) as they meet the Presiding Officer and party leaders, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Following the ceremony in the Holyrood chamber members of the Royal Family will meet with Scots who have made a positive difference to the lives of others throughout the course of the devastating coronavirus pandemic.
Buckingham Palace said the Crown of Scotland and the Mace will be carried into the debating chamber to a fanfare sounded by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
The Queen, who has been on her annual holiday in Balmoral, Aberdeenshire and is expected to arrive at around 11am, will address MSPs in the parliament after an opening statement from Presiding OfficerAlison Johnstone.
Sturgeon will then give her remarks on the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament.
A shopkeeper from Edinburgh who raised cash for her local community during the pandemic will be one of the local heroes to meet the Royal Family at the ceremony.
Linda Williams set up the coronavirus hardship fund at the Premier Broadway Convenience Store in Oxgangs. Having raised over £10,000 to help her local community, it helped hundreds of locals pay for essentials such as utility bills and food.
Johnstone said: "Our local heroes initiative is all about celebrating people from across Scotland for their contributions to their communities throughout the pandemic and beyond.
"The many actions and achievements of those nominated are truly inspiring. So many of our local heroes have put others before themselves, for the good of others.
"I am proud the Scottish Parliament will recognise people like Linda and that our local heroes will play a part in our 2021 opening ceremony."
Linda Williams said: "I am very happy to have been nominated, although I certainly wasn’t looking for any thanks or recognition.
“It has been such a hard 18 months for everyone, and I think we played a small part in making life a bit easier for our customers and neighbours by setting up a free same day delivery service and starting a hardship fund to help those who slipped through the cracks of the financial help that was available.
“Our community rose to the occasion magnificently; people were incredibly generous with their donations, and the whole experience became a shining light of hope during a hard time.
The last opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament took place in 2016.
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