King Charles Receives Keys to Edinburgh in Historic Ceremony
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Scotland on 30 June 2026 to kick off Royal Week, with the King taking part in the traditional Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The event marked the official start of the annual week dedicated to celebrating Scottish culture and traditions.
During the ceremony, held in the palace gardens under a slight drizzle, the King was given a Royal Salute and Guard of Honour by the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland performed musical renditions, including The Proclaimers' I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and the Tartan Army's football chant Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara.
Ceremony Details and Key Exchange
Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge presented the keys to the King on a red cushion, saying: “We, the Lord Provost and members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the capital city of your ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland, and offer for your gracious acceptance the keys of Your Majesty’s good city of Edinburgh.” In response, Charles gave the traditional reply: “I return these 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.”
Around 200 invited guests, recognized for their community work, watched the ceremony from the palace garden. Charles also met senior military figures and inspected the guard of honour during the event.
Significance of Royal Week
Royal Week, also known as Holyrood Week, sees the King spend a week based at the Palace of Holyroodhouse each year. The tradition involves a series of engagements celebrating Scottish culture, heritage, and community contributions. This year's ceremony highlighted the King's commitment to Scotland, with the keys ceremony serving as a symbolic gesture of trust between the monarch and the city.
The event was attended by members of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who provided the guard of honour. The ceremony was captured by photographers including Jane Barlow, Aaron Chown, and Getty Images.
