The Queen joins Princess Royal, Prince William and Duke of Edinburgh in Knights of the Thistle service
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The Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh took part in the Knights of the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh today.
And despite temperatures reaching a scorching 28C across the UK today, the royal party appeared in the traditional dark green velvet floor length robes, for the service.
Thousands of people lined the Royal Mile outside the cathedral to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family as they entered the cathedral to a fanfare from Her Majesty’s Household Trumpeters in Scotland.
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The Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh to take part in the Knights of the Thistle service
Dressed in full traditional regalia, Prince William looked worlds away from the relaxed and laid back father we have become used to seeing
Both Princess Anne and Prince William, who is known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, have been invested in the Order of the Thistle in 2001 and 2012 respectively
The mood was sombre, marking the serious nature of the service, which appoints people the highest honour in Scotland
The Queen wore a white brocade dress under her splendid green velvet mantle
Wearing a brocade white dress under her regalia the Queen looked contemplative as she walked alongside members of her family.
So cumbersome was her long mantle, a page boy, dressed in bright green, was enlisted to help hold it up at times.
The monarch, 88, was joined by her husband Prince Phillip, who looked to be in fine form following recent spells of ill health.
A sombre Prince William embraced his royal duties, leaving wife Kate and baby George at home for the day.
In his traditional feathered hat and dripping with symbolic embellishments, chains and rich gold tassels, the young royal was a world away from the more relaxed, casual William the public have become used to seeing since he became a father last year.
The Queen and Prince Phillip have been staying in Scotland this week, attending various official engagements
So cumbersome was the Queen’s long mantle, a page boy, dressed in bright green, was enlisted to help hold it up at times
Full of pomp and circumstance, the service sees the royal party process to Parliament square, to the chapel and to the Cathedral
Prince William and the royals wore traditional hats for the service, complete with impressive plumage
This year the Queen has chosen Lord Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home to receive the great honour
A guard of honour was mounted at the cathedral door by the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen’s bodyguard for Scotland, while the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played in West Parliament Square
William is known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, and was installed into the Order of the Thistle in 2012.
The Princess Royal, who was herself invested in the Order of the Thistle in June 2001, also joined the group.
A guard of honour was mounted at the cathedral door by the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen’s bodyguard for Scotland, while the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played in West Parliament Square.
The Royal Family were accompanied by other members of the Order of the Thistle, including Lord Robertson of Port Ellen and Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, who wore ceremonial gowns.
The Order of the Thistle honours men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a significant way to national life and is the highest honour in Scotland and is second only in precedence in the UK to the Order of the Garter.
The Royal Family were accompanied by other members of the Order of the Thistle, including Lord Robertson of Port Ellen and Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, who wore ceremonial gowns
The Queen and the royal party are accompanied to the Signet Libabry by the Chancellor of the Thistle, the Dean of the Thistle and the Secretary of the Thistle where they join the rest of the Order in the procession to the chapel
As they were driven to the lunch, William and Anne shared a giggle in the back of the royal car
Steeped in ancient traditions, the service features an impressive service in Parliament square where, accompanied by by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Queen and the royal party are accompanied to the Signet Libabry by the Chancellor of the Thistle, the Dean of the Thistle and the Secretary of the Thistle.
They then join the rest of the Order in the procession to the chapel.
The Knights of the Thistle starts with a private service where the Queen will install the newly appointed Members of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scotland upon Lord Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home.
The rest of the service then commences after a second process into the cathedral.
Lord Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home were installed during a ceremony conducted by the Dean of the Thistle, Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan, in the cathedral’s Thistle Chapel.
Prince William and his aunt Princess Anne were driven to Holyrood Palace after the service for a lunch hosted by the Queen
Large crowds watched as the Royal Family’s motorcade made its way from Parliament Square down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood Palace
Later in the day The Queen arrived at Edinburgh Castle to attend a commemorative service for the Scottish National War Memorial
A leading business figure in Scotland, Lord Smith of Kelvin has been chairman of the organising committee of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games since February 2008.
Conservative peer the Earl of Home is a former chairman of the private bank Coutts & Co, and chairman of the Grosvenor Group.
The installation proceedings in the chapel were broadcast to a congregation of hundreds of invited guests.
The following service, which included prayers, readings and hymns, lasted about 45 minutes and featured music by the choir of St Giles’ Cathedral.
The national anthem was sung at the end of the ceremony before the procession left the cathedral to return to the Signet Library.
Large crowds watched as the Royal Family’s motorcade made its way from Parliament Square down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood Palace where the Queen hosts a lunch.
On arrival, the Royals were greeted by a guard of honour from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotlandas well as the regiment’s pipes and drums and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland
Wearing a light lavender coat by Karl Ludwig, a floral silk dress and a hat by Angela Kelly, The Queen unveiled a bronze plaque to mark the sacrifice and centenary of the First World War
The Duke of Edinburgh shares a joke with guests in the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle during the commemorative service
Before leaving to the sounds of three cheers from those assembled, The Queen was presented with a copy of the new book Scotland’s Shrine, about the origins and construction of the war memorial
The Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland and honours men and women who have held have worked in public office or have contributed to the Scottish nation.
It was established by James II in 1687 with a statutory foundation
In 1688, the Order fell into disuse following James II’s abdication until it was revived by Queen Anne in 1703. The number of knights remained at 12.
The patron saint of the Order of the Thistle is St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, who also appears on the Order’s badge. The motto is ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’ (No one harms me with impunity).