Presenter Jackie Bird on the contemplation seat
that each MSP has in their private chambers
The Queen's Scottish Crown
The Queen being escorted by the speaker of the
Parliament, George Reid
The Queen meets Donald Dewar's Son and Daughter in
the Donald Dewar Library and on right meets the leaders of each of Scotland's
political parties.
Entertaining the crowds outside
Alex Salmon, leader of the SNP at Westminster
taking a photo
Background music being played while folk in the
debating chamber wait for the Queen
The Mace being carried in
Lord Lyon and his court come into the chamber
The Scottish Crown comes before the Queen in the
chamber
George Reid, the Speaker, gives an excellent short
speech
The Queen then replies and the young musician of
the year gives a performance
A poem written by our Poet Lauriat is read out and
then the current First Minister gives his speech
More music and song follows
Sean Connery is in the guest seats and then it's
time for Auld Lang Sang and joining of hands
And lots of applause from everyone which concluded
the proceedings
You can see video
footage of the opening of Parliament here!
You might also like to read the book...
The
Scottish Parliament before The Union of the Crowns
By Robert S. Rait (1901) (pdf)
The outline of the history of the Scottish
Parliament, up to the Union of the Crowns, contained in the present work, is
based upon the Essay on the Scottish Parliament, to which was adjudged, in
1899, the Stanhope Prize in the University of Oxford. A large portion of it
has appeared in the English Historical Review for April and July 1900, and
to the Editors of that periodical thanks are due for their courteous
permission to reprint. Although the main theme closes with the Union of the
Crowns in 1603, it has been thought desirable to include a brief sketch of
the history of the Estates up to the Union of the Kingdoms in 1707; but the
section dealing with the seventeenth century makes no attempt to do more
than provide a very brief outline of general tendencies. The writer wishes
to make acknowledgments of helpful criticism, received in the later stages
of the preparation of this book, from Professor Lodge of Edinburgh, and from
Mr. H. A. L. Fisher, Fellow and Tutor of New College. To Mr. Fisher, his
former teacher (not of History alone), who continues to the colleague the
same unfailing sympathy and kindness which he bestowed upon the pupil, the
author gladly takes this opportunity of expressing his especial gratitude,
together with the hope that a debt so pleasant may be allowed to increase
through many years to come.
