A new commission by Joanna Gill, A Song Of Thanksgiving And Dedication, set in Doric, which is spoken in the north east of Scotland, will be performed by Scottish mezzo-soprano singer and patron of the National Youth Choir of Scotland National Girls’ Choir Karen Cargill and instrumentalists and composers The Ayoub Sisters.

The piece was composed as a tribute to the Queen as Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, of which Gill is a graduate.

Mealor said: “It is an incredible honour and indeed very moving to have been asked to contribute to The Honours of Scotland service.

“This ancient service stretches back centuries and to be able to add something new to it, in honour of the King and Queen is truly humbling.”

The ceremony involves a people’s procession of about 100 community groups collecting the honours from Edinburgh Castle.

The procession will then be escorted to the cathedral by the Royal Regiment of Scotland and its Shetland pony mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV, supported by cadet musicians from the combined cadet force pipes and drums.

Meanwhile, a royal procession will travel from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the cathedral, with the public lining the Royal Mile to view both processions.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, will be attending.

A 21-gun salute will fire from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the St Giles’ service, before the royal procession travels back to the palace.

The Stone of Destiny will be in the cathedral during the ceremony, and there will also be a fly-past by the Red Arrows following the event.