Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
KING Charles received Scotland’s crown jewels yesterday to mark his Coronation.
His Majesty, 74, was presented with a crown, sceptre and a giant sword at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
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The service of thanksgiving and dedication, at which he was joined by Camilla, Wills and Kate, came two months after he was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
He spoke during the ceremony — which had echoes of his Coronation in May — making a “promise” to Scotland to serve as King.
But this time Charles smiled throughout the service whereas onlookers suggested he looked stressed eight weeks ago.
He and Camilla, 75, were driven in the state Bentley from the Palace of Holyroodhouse up the Royal Mile to the service.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, followed in a Rolls-Royce as thousands of well-wishers lining the route cheered.
The King, Queen and William, 41, wore green Order of the Thistle mantles, while Kate, 41, dazzled in a blue coat and hat and a necklace from the late Queen’s collection.
Once inside, Charles and Camilla sat on chairs, not thrones, as the crown jewels — the Honours of Scotland — were presented.
They were last received by Queen Elizabeth II at her service of thanksgiving in June 1953.
They were guarded from Edinburgh Castle, where they are kept, to the cathedral by police and the Royal Company of Archers.
Gold medal Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger, 47, acted as sword bearer, the role occupied by Tory MP Penny Mordaunt during the Coronation.
She told the King: “We pledge our loyalty, entrusting you to defend our laws, and to uphold justice and peace in our land”.
The Elizabeth Sword she carried, made last year in honour of the late Queen, measured 5ft long and weighed 16lbs — one foot longer and double the weight of the Coronation Sword of State.
The Sceptre was handed to Charles by Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk, while the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon presented the 3lb 6oz solid gold and silver Crown of Scotland.
But King Charles III was not crowned at yesterday’s ceremony.
The last monarch to receive a Coronation in Scotland was James II in 1651.
The Stone of Destiny, which was underneath the King’s throne at his Coronation, was placed on a catafalque 10ft away from him.
It was seized in 1296 and used for coronations of English and British monarchs at Westminster Abbey, but returned to Scotland in 1996.
Following the ceremony, the royals watched a fly-past by the Red Arrows.
The aerobatic display team also featured at the Coronation in London, despite most of May’s flypast having to be cancelled because of bad weather.
The celebration was organised by the Scottish Government.
A spokesman said the events were an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen the “close connections” Charles had built up with Scotland throughout his life.
It was disrupted by megaphone-wielding protesters from anti- monarchist group Republic whose cries outside of “Not my King!” could be heard inside the cathedral.