King Charles has urged the Scottish Parliament to protect “Scotland’s extraordinary natural environment”, using the formal opening of its seventh session to call on MSPs to recognise the interdependence of the planet’s health and human wellbeing.
Speaking in Edinburgh on Saturday, the King told the chamber that safeguarding the nation’s “precious natural capital” was a cause from which he would “make no apology for referring – again”. His address, delivered before the Queen, marked the beginning of Holyrood’s seventh term since the devolved institution was re-established in 1999.
The King set out what he described as his “most fundamental belief”: that the natural world and human communities are not competing interests but “deeply interwoven” ones. “There is an essential harmony between the health of our planet, the natural systems on which we depend and the health of the people that live upon the Earth,” he said.
It is a conviction he has voiced before. During the Parliament’s 25th anniversary celebrations in September 2024, the King warned of the dangers of climate change and biodiversity loss. His message on this occasion was similarly blunt, but placed within a broader philosophical argument that the environment cannot be treated as separate from social and economic life.
Acknowledging the scale of the challenges facing the country, the King said that in a “global situation of rapid and seemingly accelerating challenge”, some aims would be attainable while others, “even with the best efforts, will remain ambitions only”. He added: “But while the outcome might not always be yours to deliver, the manner in which it is pursued lies always within your power.”
The King also used the occasion to call for a different tone in political life. He encouraged debate to be “carried out with respect and courtesy” and said that disagreement was possible “while honouring one another’s dignity”. He reminded MSPs that they were “custodians of the democratic traditions long nurtured in these islands”, adding that all those engaged in public service were ultimately seeking “the good of the society we serve”.
First Minister John Swinney, responding to the King’s address, spoke of “uncertainty fuelling deep, personal anxiety” and what he described as “powerful forces bent on division”. He said that “new politics is, for us, the basis for a renewed hope” and posed a direct question to the chamber: “Will we, collectively, live out the new culture of politics that was part of the founding promise, indeed the founding spirit of this place?”
Ceremony and pageantry
The day’s proceedings were steeped in tradition and symbolism. The Crown of Scotland was escorted from Edinburgh Castle down the Royal Mile to Holyrood, and the Honours of Scotland — the Crown, Sceptre and Sword of State — were presented during the ceremony. The ceremonial mace, engraved with the words “wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity”, formed part of the procession.
Participants included Team Scotland athletes preparing for the Commonwealth Games: boxer Nicholas Devlin, para track athlete Joanna Robertson, and Beth Riva. The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon carried the Crown of Scotland, while Robert White, a Parliament administrator, also took part. Young people from organisations such as the Scottish Youth Parliament, RNIB Scotland and the Young Women’s Movement were involved in the ceremony.
There was a military rehearsal involving the Royal Regiment of Scotland for the official arrival of the King and Queen. Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson, who delivered the opening remarks before the King’s address, was elected as the seventh Presiding Officer on 14 May 2026. Gibson, who resigned his SNP affiliation upon taking the role to ensure impartiality, has pledged to be a “reforming presiding officer” and has already introduced changes including splitting First Minister’s Questions into two sessions.
Cultural performances followed the speeches. Scotland’s Makar (national poet) Pàdraig MacAoidh delivered a specially commissioned poem in Gaelic titled Let This Hall Be Full Of Noises, with an English translation provided. Harpist Rachel Groves and vocalist Ellie Beaton performed Robert Burns’s Ae Fond Kiss. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland brass ensemble played a fanfare, and there were contributions from the National Theatre of Scotland, which is marking its 20th anniversary, and the NYCOS BSL Youth Choir, part of the National Youth Choir of Scotland celebrating its 30th anniversary.
To close the meeting, the Parliament’s piper, MSP Stuart McMillan — who has served in the role for official functions since 2011 — performed Bonnie Dundee and A Hundred Pipers in the members’ garden as the King and Queen departed.
Local heroes
Following the formal ceremony, the King and Queen met a group of “local heroes” — individuals nominated by MSPs for their “extraordinary contribution” to their communities. The initiative has been a tradition at the opening of each new session since 2007, with MSPs across Scotland launching calls for nominations in the weeks leading up to the event.
It was not the first time the King has addressed the Scottish Parliament at a moment of transition. He attended its official opening in 1999 and its 20th anniversary celebrations. At the 25th anniversary in September 2024, he spoke of the “uniquely special place” Scotland holds for the royal family and of Queen Elizabeth II having treasured her time at Balmoral. He also used that speech to again highlight the dangers of climate change and biodiversity loss.
The King and Queen make regular visits to Scotland, often for their summer holiday at Balmoral, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse serves as the monarch’s official residence in Scotland. Saturday’s event formed part of “Royal Week”, or “Holyrood Week”, the annual period of royal engagements in the country.
The ceremony, which began at 11:30am, was broadcast live. In his remarks, the King described the Scottish Parliament as a “powerful expression of Scotland’s democratic tradition”. The First Minister has previously confirmed that King Charles would remain head of state if Scotland voted for independence, a position the SNP has held since 2014.
The King and Queen were greeted at Holyrood by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar before entering the chamber. The Queen accompanied the King throughout the day’s events.
