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The King and Queen in Scotland

Viewing opportunities for the public at Edinburgh events.

Public viewing areas will be available along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh as part of events to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla on Wednesday 5 July.

Events will begin around lunchtime and will include:

• a People’s Procession, involving around 100 people representing different aspects of Scottish life, walking on foot from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles’ Cathedral, accompanied by a military escort and cadet force bands
• the Honours of Scotland escorted from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles’ Cathedral by The King’s Body Guard for Scotland (the Royal Company of Archers) and a Tri-Service Guard of Honour formed by contingents of the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force with a military band and pipes and drums
• military pipe and drums, bands, and members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment processing along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral
• a Royal Procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral, attended by The King and Queen and The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay
• a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles’ Cathedral and presentation of the Honours of Scotland to The King. The Stone of Destiny will also form part of the ceremony
• a 21 Gun Salute from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the St Giles’ Service, before the Royal Procession travels back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse
• a flypast by the Red Arrows (in the direction of Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse)

There will be pavement space along the Royal Mile for people who wish to watch events in person. Those intending to come are advised to arrive early and prepare for changeable weather conditions.

Traffic restrictions and temporary road closures will be in place around the Royal Mile on the day of the events.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said:

“Next week Scotland will welcome the new King and Queen with a series of events to mark their Coronation. Highlights include a People’s Procession, a Royal Procession, a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication, and a Gun Salute in Edinburgh. Many different people, charities and organisations from across the country will be involved. I will attend the Service at St Giles’ Cathedral and I look forward to representing the people of Scotland at this historic event.

“Any members of the public who wish to get involved will be able to follow TV or radio coverage, or view events in person along the Royal Mile. Space will be limited so those planning to come should arrive early and be prepared for whatever the weather may hold.”

King and Queen visit to Edinburgh July 2023: events - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

1315   People’s Procession departs Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

1330   People’s Procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral

1340   The Honours of Scotland leave Edinburgh Castle Esplanade under military escort

1340   Military pipe and drums bands and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment move from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to West Parliament Square

1350   The Honours of Scotland arrive at West Parliament Square by vehicle

1405   Royal Procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse 

1410   Royal Procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral

1415   National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication begins

1515   Service ends

1520   The King and Queen exit St Giles’ to Gun Salute from Edinburgh Castle

1527   Royal party arrive at Palace of Holyroodhouse

1540   RAF flypast down the Royal Mile

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King's Scottish Coronation: Hour-by-hour guide to the Edinburgh celebrations

From the Service of Thanksgiving to the Royal Procession, people across Scotland will be able to celebrate the monarch's new reign

The King will be presented today with the Honours of Scotland - the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain - at a service of thanksgiving and dedication in Edinburgh.

Charles and Camilla will be honoured at St Giles’ Cathedral during an event attended by leading figures from Scottish life and members of the public, who will walk through the Scottish capital in a people’s procession.

Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, said: “The service in St Giles’ will be an uplifting and fitting celebration of our new King and Queen, and will reflect the great affection we Scots have for them.

“I know that thousands of Scots will line the streets of Edinburgh to pay tribute to the King and welcome the royal family, once again, to Scotland.”

The service forms part of Royal Week, during which the King and Queen, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, are undertaking a number of engagements across Scotland.

Here, The Telegraph outlines everything you need to know about the celebrations.

When is it? 

Scotland is marking the Coronation of the King and Queen on Wednesday, July 5 during Royal Week in Edinburgh. 

The service is set to begin at 2.15pm, and will be preceded by processions through Edinburgh.

Key events and timings

Monday, July 3

• The King attended the Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
• The King attended a reception on the Royal Yacht Britannia to mark 25 years since her arrival in Edinburgh. It was his first formal visit to the yacht since 1997.

Tuesday, July 4

• The King viewed the Jubilee Gates marking the Platinum Jubilee at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
• The King, Queen and Princess Royal hosted a Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Wednesday, July 5

• The Queen visited Dovecot studios to meet weavers, staff, and local crafts people.
• The King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales - the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland - will take part in a Royal Procession and attend a National Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Coronation at St Giles Cathedral. The timings are as follows:

1.15pm: People’s Procession departs Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.

1.30pm: People’s Procession arrives at West Parliament Square.

1.40pm: The Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels) leave the Castle Esplanade under military and police escort.

1.50pm: The Honours arrive at West Parliament Square.

2.05pm: Royal Procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

2.10pm: Royal Procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral.

2.15pm: National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication begins.

3.15pm: Service ends.

3.20pm: King and Queen exit St Giles’ Cathedral. Royal Gun Salute from Edinburgh Castle.

3.27pm: Royal party arrive at Palace of Holyroodhouse.

3.40pm: RAF flypast.

Thursday, July 6

• The King and Queen will visit the Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre in Galashiels to mark 10 years since the tapestry was completed and first went on display.
• The King and Queen will visit Lochcarron of Scotland weaving mill.
• The King and Queen will visit Selkirk, touring the marketplace and watching a traditional performance of Selkirk’s ‘Casting of the Colours’.

Who will be involved in the People’s Procession? 

The People’s Procession will travel from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles’ Cathedral, involving around 100 people representing different aspects of Scottish life.

It will be escorted by The Royal Regiment of Scotland, their mascot Corporal Cruachan IV (a Shetland pony), and supported by cadet musicians from the Combined Cadet Force Pipes and Drums, 51 Brigade Cadet Military Band. 

What are the Honours of Scotland?

The Honours of Scotland are the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain, and will be presented to the King during the service. 

The Honours are composed of the crown of Scotland, the sceptre and sword of state, and date from the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century, during the reigns of James IV and James V, the grandfather and father of Mary Queen of Scots.

Until the Treaty of Union in 1707, and in the absence of a resident monarch, the regalia were taken to sittings of the Parliament in Edinburgh to signify the sovereign’s presence and his or her consent to the passing of each Act.

After the Union, when the new UK Parliament met in London, the Honours had no ceremonial role.

The Stone of Destiny will also feature in the service . It is thought to have been used in the coronation of Scottish kings dating back more than a thousand years, and was originally kept at Scone Abbey near Perth.

It was seized from there by Edward I in 1296 and taken to London, where it remained for the next 700 years, apart from a four-month interlude in the winter of 1950-51 when it was snatched by four Scottish students and taken to Arbroath.

Sir John Major’s government agreed to return the stone to Scotland in 1996, and since then it has been kept in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle. The Scottish Government has announced plans to relocate it to Perth, where it will be the centrepiece of a new museum.

The Honours will be escorted by the King’s Body Guard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers, and a Guard of Honour formed by representatives of the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.  

Who will be involved in the Royal Procession?

The procession will be led by the King and Queen, and followed by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay .

The Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are also expected to be in attendance.

The royal party will proceed from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s residence in Edinburgh, to St Giles’ Cathedral. 

They will be preceded by musical accompaniment from the Royal Marine Band (Scotland), the Pipes, Drums and Bugles of the 2nd Battalion and mounted troops from the 1st Division of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. 

What will happen during the National Service of Thanksgiving? 

A service in honour of the King’s reign will take place in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. 

The King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland, the regalia held by Scottish monarchs at their coronations.  

The Stone of Destiny will also be in the cathedral for the service, after being moved from Edinburgh castle. 

Three pipers from Gordounstoun, the King’s former school, will play for the monarch. 

The congregation will be formed of people from all walks of Scottish life, including Humza Yousaf, the First Minister, the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish political party leaders, charity representatives and faith leaders. 

Which aircraft will take part in the flypast? 

A flypast by the Red Arrows will take place over Edinburgh in the direction of Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

It will be preceded by a 21-Gun Salute, which will fire from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the service, before the Royal Procession travels back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

The saluting troop will be the 12 Regiment Royal Artillery.

How can you watch the event? 

For those wanting to watch the event on television, it will be broadcast live on BBC One.

But for individuals attending in person, public viewing areas will be available along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. 

However, the Scottish Government has advised people to arrive early and prepare for changeable weather conditions. 

It also warned journeys may take longer than usual, and that road closures will be in force around the Royal Mile. 

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King Charles' visit to Scotland: Timeline of events, road closures and how to watch

The King and Queen will be arriving in Edinburgh on July 5 to mark their Coronation in Scotland with a series of royal celebrations in the heart of the city.

• 14:37, 3 JUL 2023
• Updated 12:27, 4 JUL 2023

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King Charles and Queen Camilla will be arriving in Edinburgh this week for the monarch's 'second Coronation' celebration which will see a series of spectacular events take place in the city to honour the new British sovereign.

The monarch's visit on Wednesday, July 5 will be the first time he has visited the capital since he was officially crowned in May.

His arrival for the annual Scottish Royal Week will be welcomed with a string of celebrations that will last two and a half hours in the heart of Edinburgh.

The events on the day will begin at around lunchtime and will kickstart with a People's procession of around 100 people from Edinburgh Castle's Esplanade to St Giles Cathedral.

The celebrations will finish up later in the afternoon with a 21 gun salute from Edinburgh castle followed by a magnificent RAF flypast finale down the Royal Mile.

Here's everything you need to know about what will happen on the day including the timeline of the events, road closures and where to watch the celebrations on television.

Timeline of events

13.15: People’s Procession departs Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

13.30: People’s Procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral

13.40: The Honours of Scotland leave Edinburgh Castle Esplanade under military escort

13.40: Military pipe and drums bands and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment move from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to West Parliament Square

13.50: The Honours of Scotland arrive at West Parliament Square by vehicle

14.05: Royal Procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse

14.10: Royal Procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral

14.15: National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication begins

15.15: Service ends

15.20: The King and Queen exit St Giles’ to gun salute from the Castle

15.27: Royal party arrive at Palace of Holyroodhouse

15.40: RAF flypast down the Royal Mile

How to watch

The Scottish Coronation celebrations will be broadcast live on BBC1 Scotland from 1:30pm with the National Service of Dedication and Dedication at 14:15 also available to listen to on BBC Radio 3.

For those wanting to watch the People's Procession take place in person, there will be viewing opportunities along the Royal Mile from the Castle to the Palace of Holyrood house.

According to the Scottish Government website, The People's Procession will be made up of a wide range of organisations who will be representing aspects of Scottish life including charities and public services.

The Procession will be escorted by The Royal Regiment of Scotland, their Shetland Pony mascot Corporal Cruachan and will be supported by cadet musicians from the Combined Cadet Force Pipes and Drums, 51 Brigade Cadet Military Band.

Why is King Charles coming

Royal week is a tradition that happens each year in Scotland with the British monarch arriving in Edinburgh to spend a week based at the Palace of Holyrood house in the Capital.

Charles' first visit as King echoes the visit his late mother Queen Elizabeth II made to the city of Edinburgh in June 1953 shortly after she was crowned.

During the hour long National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles Cathedral, the King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland which are the oldest crown jewels in Britain along with the Stone of Destiny.

These are made up of the new Elizabeth sword in honour of Her Majesty, the sceptre and the priceless crown of Scotland which have been present at many of the major royal ceremonial events over the past five centuries.

Road closures and public transport warnings

Royal Week is set to be a very busy period for the city with Edinburgh Council warning locals not to drive in the City Centre on Wednesday.

A number of road closures and traffic restrictions will be put in place around the Royal Mile on the day of the event.

These closures will begin from Tuesday July 4 including ones around the Palace of Holyroodhouse – Holyrood Gait, Holyrood Road, Horse Wynd.

On Wednesday a more extensive list of closures will include: Abbeyhill, Calton Road, Canongate, High Street, Jeffrey Street, St Mary’s Street, North Bridge, South Bridge, Cockburn Street, Victoria Street, George IV Bridge, Lawnmarket and Johnston Terrace.

All roads closed for royal events will be reopened by 6pm on July 6 with the exception of areas around the Castle Concerts, as well as St Giles Street and St John Street.

Public transport warnings have also been issued as royal fans and spectators are being advised to leave within plenty of time to make the event on time and check route schedules before leaving.

Royals latest news

Further information is available from Traffic Scotland and updates will be posted by Edinburgh Council.

More information on each part of the day can be found here.

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Scottish coronation live stream: Watch King Charles’s Edinburgh procession and today’s schedule in full

The festivities will start just after 1.15pm with a people's procession of around 100 community groups.

King Charles will be honoured in a second ceremony today as he receives the Honours of Scotland , otherwise known as the Scottish Crown Jewels.

The Scottish crown has been in existence for hundreds of years, and the line has included famous names such as Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots.

It comes two months after a lavish ceremony in Westminster Abbey marked the King’s coronation.

What can we expect from the coronation?

Scotland is to mark the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla with a series of events including a service of thanksgiving, a royal procession and a Red Arrows flypast.

The royal couple are making a week-long visit north of the border, with the King following in the footsteps of his late mother Elizabeth II, who did a similar tour in 1953 .

The key event will be held on 5 July in Edinburgh, when a national service of thanksgiving will take place at St Giles’ Cathedral and a procession held along the capital’s Royal Mile .

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A 21-gun salute will fire from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the service, with the Red Arrows also staging a flypast, with further details due to be released in the coming weeks.

During the thanksgiving service, King Charles will be presented with the crown, sceptre and sword of state that comprise the Honours of Scotland , the UK’s oldest crown jewels.

The Honours will be collected from Edinburgh Castle by a “people’s procession” involving around 100 people who have been chosen to represent all aspects of Scottish life.

The procession will include Corporal Cruachan IV, a Shetland pony who is the mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, with those taking part accompanied by a military band.

Others involved include a selection of charities, members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, the Princes Foundation and the Princes Trust, as well as Girl Guides and Scouts.

The procession will be escorted by the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland , the Royal Company of Archers and a Guard of Honour formed by contingents of the Navy, Army and RAF.

A separate royal procession will also travel from the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the foot of the Royal Mile to St Giles, with members of the public allowed to line the street to observe.

The Stone of Destiny , which is usually kept at Edinburgh Castle but was transferred to Westminster Abbey for the coronation last month, will be moved to St Giles for the service.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, will also attend events during the King and Queen’s visit.

First Minister, Humza Yousaf , said of the event earlier: “Scotland will welcome the new King and Queen in July with a series of events to mark the coronation.

“Representatives from many different communities and organisations in Scotland will take part in these historic events.

“People who wish to mark this historic occasion can get involved by watching broadcast coverage or viewing events in person. We will issue more information confirming how members of the public can access events in the coming weeks.”

What time is the Scottish coronation?

The festivities will start just after 1.15pm with a people’s procession of around 100 community groups.

The service will then commence at 2.10pm at St Giles’ Cathedral after the royal procession arrives at the historic location.

Key timings:

• 1.15pm:   People’s procession leaves from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
• 1.30pm:  People’s procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral
• 1.40pm:   The Honours of Scotland leave Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
• 1.40pm: Military pipe and drums bands and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment move from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to West Parliament Square
• 1.50pm:   The Honours of Scotland arrive at West Parliament Square
• 2.05pm:   Royal procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse 
• 2.10pm:   Royal procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral
• 2.15pm:  National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication begins
• 3.15pm:   Service ends
• 3.20pm:   The King and Queen exit St Giles’ to Gun Salute from Edinburgh Castle
• 3.27pm:   Royal party arrive at Palace of Holyroodhouse
• 3.40pm:   RAF flypast down the Royal Mile

How can I watch it?

Some will be able to see the processions in person, but most will have to watch from home.

You can watch it right here on the above live stream.

The entire event will be broadcast on BBC One starting at 1.30pm. Anyone looking to watch online can do so via the BBC iPlayer , and there will be a special show on Radio 3.

It will be hosted by Sally Magnusson and James Naughtie, who will provide commentary and context for what is happening.

Viewers will also be treated to music from Nicola Benedetti, Karen Cargill and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

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Edinburgh road closures for King Charles and Queen Camilla visit to the capital

A number of road closures have been announced ahead of the King and Queen's royal visit to Edinburgh. His Majesty will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral.

• 14:31, 30 JUN 2023

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Edinburgh is preparing for the King and Queen's visit as the King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral, following processions on the Royal Mile.

With this, a number of road closures will be put in place to accommodate the royals during the week.

While the special ceremony is taking place on July 5. there will be restrictions on waiting, loading and unloading across the Old Town from June 28 to July 7.

READ NEXT- Edinburgh police to 'crackdown' on disruptive protest during King Charles visit

Edinburgh council is urging visitors and Edinburgh locals to plan their trip to the city centre ahead of time and advise against parking around the Old Town during this week.

Lothian Buses have also announced a list of diversions for July 5, stating on their website that several streets in the city centre will be closed between 10.00am and 4.00pm on Wednesday. You can see more information on lothianbuses.com .

As Edinburgh council states on their website, the following road closures are as followed;

Road closures from July 4

• Holyrood Gait
• Holyrood Road
• St. Giles Street
• St. John Street

From 5 July

• Abbey Mount
• Abbeyhill Crescent
• Bank Street
• Blackfriars Street
• Brand Place
• Calton Road
• Castle Wynd North Steps
• Cockburn Street
• Cranston Street
• Croft-an-righ
• Duke’s Walk
• George IV Bridge
• High Street
• Jeffrey Street
• Johnston Terrace
• King’s Bridge
• Mound Place
• Niddry Street
• North Bank Street
• North Bridge
• Old Fishmarket Close
• Old Tolbooth Wynd
• Parliament Square
• Queen’s Drive
• Ramsay Garden
• Ramsay Lane
• South Bridge
• St. Mary’s Street
• Victoria Street
• West Parliament Square

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Roads re-opening

All roads will re-open by 6pm on July 5, except closures in place for the Castle Concerts, as well as St Giles Street and St John Street.

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The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh step in for King Charles at historic parade

Prince edward and duchess sophie marked the 120th anniversary of the entente cordiale.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh stepped in for the King as they celebrated Anglo-French relations at a ceremony marking the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.

Prince Edward , 60, and Sophie, 59, inspected UK and French troops on Buckingham Palace's forecourt during the parade highlighting ties between the two nations.

During the ceremony, the royal couple walked past 32 members of the 1st and 2nd Infantry regiments of the Garde Republicaine and then 40 guardsmen from F Company Scots Guards, lined up opposite their French counterparts.

See the moment in the clip below…

The King, who is continuing his cancer treatment, was not at Buckingham Palace as his brother and sister-in-law represented him at the outing.

Edward and Sophie, who were last seen publicly with the King on Easter Sunday , were joined by General Sir Patrick Sanders, UK Chief of General Staff, the French Chief of the Army Staff General Pierre Schill and France’s ambassador to the UK Helene Duchene.

It marked the first time a non-Commonwealth country has taken part in the Changing Of The Guard ceremony – although the French troops did not guard the royal residence.

Major Jamie Drummond-Moray, Officer Commanding F Company Scots Guards, said: "It is an enormous privilege for us to host the French here in London and to play such a significant part in a ceremony that has never happened before with a non-Commonwealth country. 

"It really is a monumental occasion and more so given that it is marking 120 years of the strong relationship between the UK with France. I think it's a great honour for all our soldiers, and a fantastic day for everyone in France and the UK."

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Sophie looked beautiful in a white midi dress with a cream trench coat and nude heels for the ceremony, and wore her hair styled up in a low bun, accessorised with floral-shaped earrings.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are parents to Lady Louise Windsor , 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 16. While James accompanied his parents on Easter Sunday, Lady Louise was notably absent from the church service, thought to be due to her university commitments.

Edward and Sophie are among the senior royals to step in for the King as he continues treatment, alongside Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal.

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King Charles III to visit Poundbury today to unveil Duke of Edinburgh memorial garden

It is the first time he will visit his model town since becoming king

• 01:01, 27 JUN 2023
• Updated 09:21, 27 JUN 2023

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King Charles III will visit Poundbury to officially open a memorial garden dedicated to his late father. As revealed by Dorset Live, landscaping work began on the new Duke of Edinburgh garden on the Pavilion Green in March and was scheduled to be unveiled in June.

In his first official visit to Poundbury as king, King Charles III with the Queen Consort Camilla will arrive in town on Tuesday morning (June 27) where they will be welcomed by a brass band. Their Majesties will arrive at The Royal Pavilion and meet local dignitaries and those involved in the Royal Pavilion development, before being shown the new bronze reliefs.

Their Majesties will also meet the sculptor of the reliefs Ian Rank-Broadly before the Poundbury Development Director Andrew Hamilton says a few words to mark the occasion. Their Majesties will then move to The Duke of Edinburgh Garden where Their Majesties will untie a ribbon at the entrance to officially open the garden.

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In the centre of the garden, Their Majesties will meet George Carter, the landscape designer, before listening to children from the local Damers First School perform a song. King Charles III and Camilla will meet the headteacher of Damers First School Catherine Smith, along with schoolchildren.

Their Majesties will also view the obelisk garden within the garden where they will meet sculptor Frances Segelman Lady Petchy. Their Majesties will view the bronze bust of The late Duke of Edinburgh, before meeting the team responsible for the construction of the garden.

Prince Philip died in April 2021 at the age of 99 and was later laid to rest at The George VI Memorial Chapel in St George's Chapel with Queen Elizabeth. The display will be the second memorial to a member of the royal family in Poundbury. The Queen Mother Square in honour of King Charles’ grandmother was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 2016, where they took a tour of Poundbury.

King Charles has regularly visited Poundbury over the years, with his last official visit in May 2022 to officially open the town's new playground with huge towers and rides.

Prince William now owns Poundbury, as he is the Duke of Cornwall and now owns the Duchy of Cornwall estate which helps manage the estate's wider property portfolio. Prince William has not officially visited Poundbury since this transition, but he is currently on a nationwide tour to promote his homelessness project Homewards.

Poundbury was originally designed to be a sustainable community following principles set out in Charles' book A Vision of Britain. King Charles’ model town is now home to more than 4,000 people, contains a mixture of independent businesses which employ more than 2,000 people and is on schedule to be completed in 2028.

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The king's youngest brother has taken on more and more responsibility over the last few years, especially now that the king is sick.

By Michael Hein - April 17, 2024 07:29 pm EDT

The British royal family is closing ranks in the face of two medical emergencies, and Prince Edward has become more central than ever. The 60-year-old Duke of Edinburgh is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and is currently a Counsellor of State for King Charles III . On Monday, April 8, he led a major royal event for the very first time.

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones stood in for the king and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace for the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale – an agreement between the countries who opposed Germany in World War I. The king himself is not attending public events or engagements during his cancer treatment, though he is still carrying out his day-to-day duties. Pundits at the BBC and other publications noted that it was a big deal for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to be trusted for a major event like this one, and that it was hard-earned. Royalty expert Jennie Bond told OK! Magazine that Prince Edward and Rhys-Jones "thoroughly deserve the recognition they are now getting."

"They have always been quietly devoted to their various causes, but their work has been overshadowed by other royals," she said. "I suppose every cloud has a silver lining... and as the King calls on them to take a more prominent role, Edward and Sophie are showing they are very much up to the task."

Bond also noted that Prince Edward's dutiful behavior is a welcome example of how a member of the royal family can pitch in even if they are lower in the line of succession. She said: "They are also serving as excellent role models to their great nephews and niece – showing that you can be a 'spare' or even a 'spare to the spare' and make a real success of working as a valued member of the Royal Family ."

That's a clear reference to Prince Harry, whose memoir Spare was published just last year, detailing his conflicted feelings about being the younger sibling in the monarchy. Prince Edward was born even lower in the order of succession as the fourth child of the queen and Prince Philip. He is 15 years younger than the king, and their siblings Prince Andrew and Princess Anne come between them. Prince Edward served in the Royal Marines, attended college, and worked as a theater and TV producer before returning to full-time royal duties.

Prince Edward and Rhys-Jones have two children – 20-year-old Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and 16-year-old James Mountbatten-Windsor. They are styled as "children of a duke" rather than "princess and prince," according to royal tradition. The family patronizes organizations for children's activities, paralympic sports, classical music, ballet, and theater. Upon the death of Prince Philip, Prince Edward was created the new Duke of Edinburgh. However, the title is not hereditary, and will return to the crown upon his passing.

Practically speaking, the most important role Prince Edward holds now is that of Counsellor of State . Counsellors are the people eligible to carry out royal duties on behalf of the king, but only through formal letters patent and only in situations of great need. The other counselors include Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Anne. However, the royal family is spread thin as both the king and Kate Middleton undergo cancer treatment. The help of figures like Prince Edward may become more common in the months to come.

• Prince Edward's Ex-Girlfriend Once Silenced Queen Elizabeth's Singing at Royal Family BBQ
• Prince Charles Leaves Royal Family Member Furious Over Potential Denial of New Title
• Prince Edward Speaks out on Prince Harry's Rift From Royal Family

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The British royal visited the Yeo Valley Farm on Wednesday.

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh put a spin on spring dressing for her recent royal engagement. The British royal family member visited the Yeo Valley Farm in Blagdon on Wednesday for a daytime event.

For the occasion, Sophie wore a Bally belted wool-blend jacket in navy. The jacket featured four flap-pockets and gold button detailing along with an ornately designed gold belt buckle. Sophie paired the look with a patterned shirt, which featured quintessential spring hues like light blues and cream colors.

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But while the Duchess of Edinburgh made the case for navy color schemes and wool-blends during spring, the royal has already demonstrated her appreciation for softer tones and pastel colors that evoke the springtime season. While attending the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace  on April 8, the royal embraced spring pastels in a knit maxi dress in light blue by Roland Mouret.

Along with the dress, the Duchess of Edinburgh wore a double-breasted brushed wool coat in sand white by Max Mara. She continued the springtime aesthetic by completing her look with blush pink pointed-toe pumps by Prada. The finishing touch was a Strathberry shoulder bag, which complemented the hues on display in Sophie’s outfit.

Like many European royals, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh often keeps her public engagement ensembles sleek and refined. Much like Queen Letizia of Spain and Catherine, Princess of Wales , Sophie’s style and sartorial sensibility often refrains from current trends, opting instead for classic silhouettes with contemporary touches.

Princess Diana’s Easter Outfits: All the Looks [PHOTOS]

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King Charles Gives a Smile as He's Spotted in London amid Cancer Treatment with Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla recently returned to royal work following a break surrounding the Easter holiday and her anniversary with the King

NewsUK/MEGA

King Charles and Queen Camilla are back in London.

On April 17, the royal couple was photographed in a car leaving Clarence House, their royal residence in London. The Queen, 76, rode in the passenger seat while the King, 75, sat in the back on the same side, both giving a smile and wave at onlookers.

The spotting came just one day after Queen Camilla resumed her royal duties after a few weeks spent largely out of the public eye during a break for the Easter holiday as well as her 19th wedding anniversary with the King on April 9.

Meanwhile, King Charles continues to work mainly behind the scenes since he announced his cancer diagnosis in February. The announcement came weeks after he underwent a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate in January, during which “a separate issue of concern was noted,” the palace said in a statement. (They clarified that the monarch did not have prostate cancer.) King Charles began "a schedule of regular treatments" and postponed most public-facing duties, following medical advice.

At the end of March, King Charles made his first major public appearance since sharing the cancer diagnosis as he and Queen Camilla attended a church service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Easter along with other members of the royal family.

The pair spent time in Birkhall , a favorite Scottish hideaway, to mark their wedding anniversary earlier this month. The King and Queen often retreat to the residence, close to the royal family's Balmoral Castle and estate, around this time every year.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty Images

While the Queen continues her royal duties, King Charles is reportedly "frustrated" by his current limitations.

Peter Phillips , the King's nephew, told Sky News Australia 's The Royal Report in March, "I think, ultimately, he's hugely frustrated. He's frustrated that he can't get on and do everything that he wants to be able to do."

“But he is very pragmatic, [and] he understands that there's a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself," he continued.

Just before Easter, a royal source told PEOPLE that King Charles is " progressing well " and there is an "amplified confidence" about the sophisticated treatment he's receiving.

"He is positive, the doctors are optimistic," the source said.

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2024 NBA playoffs: Schedule, game times, TV info as action tips off, dates set for entire first round

The first round of the 2024 nba playoffs will get started saturday afternoon.

All of the matchups are set in the 2024 NBA playoffs, and the complete schedule is here for the first round. Game 1 for all eight first-round series will take place this weekend, with Cavaliers vs. Magic starting things off on Saturday afternoon. The Heat and Pelicans claimed the No. 8 seeds in the playoff bracket on Friday night as the Play-In Tournament wrapped up and moved on to face the Celtics and Thunder, respectively.

The Lakers and 76ers (No. 7 seeds in their respective conferences) also advanced out of the Play-In Tournament, while the Kings, Hawks, Warriors and Bulls were all eliminated from the postseason.

The first round could run through Sunday, May 5 with eight best-of-seven series. The NBA has announced dates for every potential first-round game, as well as times and TV info for the first four games in each series. The up-to-date NBA playoff schedule is below.

All NBA playoff games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBA TV will be streaming on fubo (try for free).

2024 NBA playoffs schedule: First round

(All times Eastern)

Saturday, April 20 Game 1: Cavaliers vs. Magic, 1 p.m., ESPN/ fubo Game 1:  Timberwolves  vs. Suns, 3:30, ESPN/ fubo Game 1: Knicks vs. 76ers, 6 p.m., ESPN/ fubo Game 1: Nuggets vs. Lakers, 8:30 p.m., ABC/ fubo

Sunday, April 21 Game 1: Celtics vs. Heat, 1 p.m., ABC/ fubo Game 1:  Clippers  vs.  Mavericks , 3:30 p.m., ABC/ fubo Game 1: Bucks vs. Pacers , 7 p.m., TNT Game 1: Thunder vs. Pelicans, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Monday, April 22 Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Magic, 7 p.m., NBA TV/ fubo Game 2: Knicks vs. 76ers, 7:30 p.m., TNT Game 2: Nuggets vs. Lakers, 10 p.m., TNT

Tuesday, April 23 Game 2: Timberwolves vs. Suns, 7:30 p.m., TNT Game 2: Bucks vs. Pacers, 8:30 p.m., NBA TV/ fubo Game 2: Clippers vs. Mavericks, 10 p.m., TNT

Wednesday, April 24 Game 2: Celtics vs. Heat, 7 p.m., TNT Game 2: Thunder vs. Pelicans, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Thursday, April 25 Game 3: Magic vs. Cavaliers, 7 p.m., NBA TV/ fubo Game 3: 76ers vs. Knicks, 7:30 p.m., TNT Game 3: Lakers vs. Nuggets, 10 p.m., TNT

Friday, April 26 Game 3: Pacers vs. Bucks, 5:30 p.m., ESPN/ fubo Game 3: Mavericks vs. Clippers, 8 p.m., ESPN/ fubo Game 3: Suns vs. Timberwolves, 10:30 p.m., ESPN/ fubo

Saturday, April 27 Game 4: Magic vs. Cavaliers, 1 p.m., TNT  Game 3: Pelicans vs. Thunder, 3:30 p.m., TNT Game 3: Heat vs. Celtics, 6 p.m., TNT Game 4: Lakers vs. Nuggets, 8:30 p.m., ABC/ fubo

Sunday, April 28 Game 4: Knicks vs. 76ers, 1 p.m., ABC/ fubo Game 4: Mavericks vs. Clippers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ fubo Game 4: Pacers vs. Bucks, 7 p.m., TNT Game 4: Suns vs. Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Monday, April 29 Game 4: Heat vs. Celtics, TBD Game 4: Pelicans vs. Thunder, TBD Game 5*: Nuggets vs. Lakers, TBD

Tuesday, April 30 Game 5*: Knicks vs. 76ers, TBD Game 5*: Bucks vs. Pacers, TBD Game 5*: Cavaliers vs. Magic, TBD Game 5*: Timberwolves vs. Suns, TBD

Wednesday, May 1 Game 5*: Celtics vs. Heat, TBD Game 5*: Thunder vs. Pelicans, TBD Game 5*: Clippers vs. Mavericks, TBD

Thursday, May 2 Game 6*: 76ers vs. Knicks, TBD Game 6*: Pacers vs. Bucks, TBD Game 6*: Suns vs. Timberwolves, TBD Game 6*: Lakers vs. Nuggets, TBD

Friday, May 3 Game 6*: Heat vs. Celtics, TBD Game 6*: Magic vs. Cavaliers, TTBD Game 6*: Mavericks vs. Clippers, TBD Game 6*: Pelicans vs. Thunder, TBD

Saturday, May 4 Game 7*: Knicks vs. 76ers, TBD Game 7*: Bucks vs. Pacers, TBD Game 7*: Timberwolves vs. Suns, TBD Game 7*: Nuggets vs. Lakers, TBD

Sunday, May 5 Game 7*: Celtics vs. Heat, TBD Game 7*: Cavaliers vs. Magic, TBD Game 7*: Pelicans vs. Thunder, TBD Game 7*: Clippers vs. Mavericks, TBD

2024 NBA playoff dates

• April 20-21 : Start of first round
• May 4-7 : Start of second round
• May 19-22 : Start of Conference Finals
• June 6 : NBA Finals Game 1
• June 23 : NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)

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Royal romance: Best images, video of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's recent visit to Wellington

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently made a surprise visit to Palm Beach County, immersing themselves in a whirlwind of philanthropic and sporting endeavors. The royal couple, now residing in California, graced the region with their presence, starting with Harry's participation in a panel discussion in South Beach on Thursday, April 11. The panel, held at The Ritz-Carlton, focused on how to address the health, wealth inequality, and climate challenges affecting African youth, a long-held passion of Harry's.

On Friday, April 12, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex headed to Wellington, where they attended the Royal Salute Polo Challenge at Grand Champions Polo Club. The event, benefiting Sentebale, a charity Harry co-founded, supports children in Lesotho and Botswana affected by poverty and health issues like HIV. The couple mingled with Sentebale executives and friends, including polo player Nacho Figueras and his wife, Delfina.

While Harry played polo, Meghan joined Delfina in the viewing area . This was Harry's second polo outing in Wellington, emphasizing his enduring connection to the sport and its charitable endeavors. It may have been a brief visit, but the royal couple's presence underscored the region's significance as a hub for philanthropy and equestrian pursuits. The visit follows in the path of Harry's father, Prince Charles , whose own fondness for polo also brought him to town.

Prince Harry scores goal, gets kiss from Meghan Markle as his team wins charity polo match in Wellington

  Meghan Markle  stepped to the podium carrying the trophy awarded to the winner of the  Royal Salute Sentebale Polo Challenge . The Duchess of Sussex walked past the first two players of the winning Royal Salute Sentebale team before squeezing in beside her husband.

"Me,"  Prince Harry  said, pointing to himself and feigning surprise before the couple kissed. Read the full story here: Prince Harry scores goal, gets kiss from Meghan Markle as his team wins charity polo match

A look back at the royal family's visits to Palm Beach County

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent Palm Beach County stop is the latest in a long-standing history of royal visits to the area. From Prince Harry's participation in charitable polo matches to the controversies surrounding Prince Charles and Princess Diana's visits , the royal family's local interactions have left lasting impressions. Their visits captivate local attention and highlight the area's significance on the global stage.

More: A look back at the royals in Palm Beach County: When Charles, Diana, Prince Harry visited

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• Q&A: Claire Walsh on how J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative tackles the twin climate and poverty crises

Q&A: Claire Walsh on how J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative tackles the twin climate and poverty crises

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The King Climate Action Initiative ( K-CAI ) is the flagship climate change program of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), which innovates, tests, and scales solutions at the nexus of climate change and poverty alleviation, together with policy partners worldwide.

Claire Walsh is the associate director of policy at J-PAL Global at MIT. She is also the project director of K-CAI. Here, Walsh talks about the work of K-CAI since its launch in 2020, and describes the ways its projects are making a difference. This is part of an ongoing series exploring how the MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences is addressing the climate crisis.

Q: According to the King Climate Action Initiative (K-CAI), any attempt to address poverty effectively must also simultaneously address climate change. Why is that?

A: Climate change will disproportionately harm people in poverty, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, because they tend to live in places that are more exposed to climate risk. These are nations in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia where low-income communities rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods, so extreme weather — heat, droughts, and flooding — can be devastating for people’s jobs and food security. In fact, the World Bank estimates that up to 130 million more people may be pushed into poverty by climate change by 2030.

This is unjust because these countries have historically emitted the least; their people didn’t cause the climate crisis. At the same time, they are trying to improve their economies and improve people’s welfare, so their energy demands are increasing, and they are emitting more. But they don’t have the same resources as wealthy nations for mitigation or adaptation, and many developing countries understandably don’t feel eager to put solving a problem they didn’t create at the top of their priority list. This makes finding paths forward to cutting emissions on a global scale politically challenging.

For these reasons, the problems of enhancing the well-being of people experiencing poverty, addressing inequality, and reducing pollution and greenhouse gases are inextricably linked.

Q: So how does K-CAI tackle this hybrid challenge?

A: Our initiative is pretty unique. We are a competitive, policy-based research and development fund that focuses on innovating, testing, and scaling solutions. We support researchers from MIT and other universities, and their collaborators, who are actually implementing programs, whether NGOs [nongovernmental organizations], government, or the private sector. We fund pilots of small-scale ideas in a real-world setting to determine if they hold promise, followed by larger randomized, controlled trials of promising solutions in climate change mitigation, adaptation, pollution reduction, and energy access. Our goal is to determine, through rigorous research, if these solutions are actually working — for example, in cutting emissions or protecting forests or helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. And finally, we offer path-to-scale grants which enable governments and NGOs to expand access to programs that have been tested and have strong evidence of impact.

We think this model is really powerful. Since we launched in 2020, we have built a portfolio of over 30 randomized evaluations and 13 scaling projects in more than 35 countries. And to date, these projects have informed the scale ups of evidence-based climate policies that have reached over 15 million people.

Q: It seems like K-CAI is advancing a kind of policy science, demanding proof of a program’s capacity to deliver results at each stage.  

A: This is one of the factors that drew me to J-PAL back in 2012. I majored in anthropology and studied abroad in Uganda. From those experiences I became very passionate about pursuing a career focused on poverty reduction. To me, it is unfair that in a world full of so much wealth and so much opportunity there exists so much extreme poverty. I wanted to dedicate my career to that, but I'm also a very detail-oriented nerd who really cares about whether a program that claims to be doing something for people is accomplishing what it claims.

It's been really rewarding to see demand from governments and NGOs for evidence-informed policymaking grow over my 12 years at J-PAL. This policy science approach holds exciting promise to help transform public policy and climate policy in the coming decades.  

Q: Can you point to K-CAI-funded projects that meet this high bar and are now making a significant impact?

A: Several examples jump to mind. In the state of Gujarat, India, pollution regulators are trying to cut particulate matter air pollution, which is devastating to human health. The region is home to many major industries whose emissions negatively affect most of the state’s 70 million residents.

We partnered with state pollution regulators — kind of a regional EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] — to test an emissions trading scheme that is used widely in the U.S. and Europe but not in low- and middle-income countries. The government monitors pollution levels using technology installed at factories that sends data in real time, so the regulator knows exactly what their emissions look like. The regulator sets a cap on the overall level of pollution, allocates permits to pollute, and industries can trade emissions permits.

In 2019, researchers in the J-PAL network conducted the world’s first randomized, controlled trial of this emissions trading scheme and found that it cut pollution by 20 to 30 percent — a surprising reduction. It also reduced firms’ costs, on average, because the costs of compliance went down. The state government was eager to scale up the pilot, and in the past two years, two other cities, including Ahmedabad, the biggest city in the state, have adopted the concept.

We are also supporting a project in Niger, whose economy is hugely dependent on rain-fed agriculture but with climate change is experiencing rapid desertification. Researchers in the J-PAL network have been testing training farmers in a simple, inexpensive rainwater harvesting technique, where farmers dig a half-moon-shaped hole called a demi-lune right before the rainy season. This demi-lune feeds crops that are grown directly on top of it, and helps return land that resembled flat desert to arable production.

Researchers found that training farmers in this simple technology increased adoption from 4 percent to 94 percent and that demi-lunes increased agricultural output and revenue for farmers from the first year. K-CAI is funding a path-to-scale grant so local implementers can teach this technique to over 8,000 farmers and build a more cost-effective program model. If this takes hold, the team will work with local partners to scale the training to other relevant regions of the country and potentially other countries in the Sahel.

One final example that we are really proud of, because we first funded it as a pilot and now it’s in the path to scale phase: We supported a team of researchers working with partners in Bangladesh trying to reduce carbon emissions and other pollution from brick manufacturing, an industry that generates 17 percent of the country’s carbon emissions. The scale of manufacturing is so great that at some times of year, Dhaka (the capital of Bangladesh) looks like Mordor.

Workers form these bricks and stack hundreds of thousands of them, which they then fire by burning coal. A team of local researchers and collaborators from our J-PAL network found that you can reduce the amount of coal needed for the kilns by making some low-cost changes to the manufacturing process, including stacking the bricks in a way that increases airflow in the kiln and feeding the coal fires more frequently in smaller rather than larger batches.

In the randomized, controlled trial K-CAI supported, researchers found that this cut carbon and pollution emissions significantly, and now the government has invited the team to train 1,000 brick manufacturers in Dhaka in these techniques.

Q: These are all fascinating and powerful instances of implementing ideas that address a range of problems in different parts of the world. But can K-CAI go big enough and fast enough to take a real bite out of the twin poverty and climate crisis?

A: We're not trying to find silver bullets. We are trying to build a large playbook of real solutions that work to solve specific problems in specific contexts. As you build those up in the hundreds, you have a deep bench of effective approaches to solve problems that can add up in a meaningful way. And because J-PAL works with governments and NGOs that have the capacity to take the research into action, since 2003, over 600 million people around the world have been reached by policies and programs that are informed by evidence that J-PAL-affiliated researchers produced. While global challenges seem daunting, J-PAL has shown that in 20 years we can achieve a great deal, and there is huge potential for future impact.

But unfortunately, globally, there is an underinvestment in policy innovation to combat climate change that may generate quicker, lower-cost returns at a large scale — especially in policies that determine which technologies get adopted or commercialized. For example, a lot of the huge fall in prices of renewable energy was enabled by early European government investments in solar and wind, and then continuing support for innovation in renewable energy.

That’s why I think social sciences have so much to offer in the fight against climate change and poverty; we are working where technology meets policy and where technology meets real people, which often determines their success or failure. The world should be investing in policy, economic, and social innovation just as much as it is investing in technological innovation.

Q: Do you need to be an optimist in your job?

A: I am half-optimist, half-pragmatist. I have no control over the climate change outcome for the world. And regardless of whether we can successfully avoid most of the potential damages of climate change, when I look back, I'm going to ask myself, “Did I fight or not?” The only choice I have is whether or not I fought, and I want to be a fighter.

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Crowds cheer King Charles during visit to Dunfermline

• Published 3 October 2022

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King Charles and Queen Consort greet crowds on visit to Dunfermline

Large crowds gathered in Dunfermline to welcome King Charles and the Queen Consort on a visit to mark the former town's new status as a city.

The ceremony was their first public visit since the official period of royal mourning for the Queen ended.

King Charles said the event would "gladden my dear mother's heart".

The couple then visited Dunfermline Abbey before travelling to Edinburgh to host a reception celebrating the British South Asian community.

There were cheers from well-wishers when Charles and Camilla arrived at Dunfermline City Chambers on Monday morning.

City decree would 'gladden mother's heart' - King Charles

• What message will King Charles’s first trips send?

After being met by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Fife's Provost Jim Leishman, they walked across the cobbles to the waiting crowd.

King Charles spent more than five minutes reaching over the metal barriers to shake the hands of people who had queued to see the royal couple.

Linda Dalgarno, from Dunfermline, was one of the people who shook the King's hand.

She said: "It was amazing. It was so emotional to shake his hand.

"We weren't sure if he would come round and see everyone but he did and it was something to remember.

"It's history for the city."

The King then made a speech in the City Chambers, expressing his "delight" that Dunfermline had been one of the eight communities to be granted city status to mark the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

King Charles III: "We gather to celebrate this great occasion but also to commemorate the life of Her late Majesty, whose deep love for Scotland was one of the foundations of her life."

He said he and his wife were "immensely proud" to be able to share the historic moment.

"There could be no more fitting way to mark my beloved mother's extraordinary life of service than by granting this honour to a place made famous by its own long and distinguished history, and by the indispensable role it has played in the life of our country," he said.

"Now, of course, we gather to celebrate this great occasion but also to commemorate the life of Her late Majesty, whose deep love for Scotland was one of the foundations of her life."

After the ceremony the royal couple made the short walk to Dunfermline Abbey to formally mark its 950th anniversary.

They spent about 20 minutes in the abbey, then walked down the steps to St Catherine's Wynd and met members of the public. King Charles also met a group of schoolchildren.

The couple then travelled to Edinburgh to host a reception celebrating British South Asian communities.

Between 200 and 300 guests of British Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Bhutanese and Maldivian heritage from across the UK attended the event at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

It recognised the contribution that people from these communities have made to UK life, from the National Health Service to the arts, media, education, business and the armed forces.

The late Queen Elizabeth previously visited Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 900th anniversary.

Lord Provost Jim Leishman, the former manager of Dunfermline Athletic football team, said it had been "a long, hard journey" to achieving city status.

"A lot of people deserve a lot of credit for the work they have put in over 10 years," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme .

"The King and Queen Consort are having a wee walk going down to the abbey after he has given us the city status - the people of Dunfermline will love that.

"That is what makes it very very special - his first official engagement in Scotland and he is coming to Dunfermline. That is a tremendous accolade for the people of Dunfermline."

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Related Topics

• Queen Camilla
• Dunfermline
• King Charles III

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