a traditionalist, who cares deeply about the past, but unusually for a traditionalist, he is also obsessed with the future. and that is the key that many people who know him well talk about, that he is deeply concerned with the way the future is shaped, and yet, to him, there is no contrast between that and an absorption in the best of the past, and what it delivers, as he would see it, two generations today, and we see that past represented before us here in west parliament square outside the kirk of st giles, the household cavalry, and music. and we are hearing some wonderful music today. this is a composition which the king is very involved in choosing. it includes three scottish traditional tunes, choosing. it includes three scottish

traditionaltunes, dark choosing. it includes three scottish traditional tunes, dark lochnagar and being one. they have been incorporated into a new composition by a composer from incorporated into a new composition by a composerfrom nearby incorporated into a new composition by a composer from nearby dumfries house, which the king has put a lot of time and energy into regenerating. let's hear this.

and the king and queen leaving holyroodhouse to begin theirjourney up holyroodhouse to begin theirjourney up to st giles�*. they are wearing, the king and queen, the robes of the order of the thistle. also, the duke of rothesay is a knight of the thistle, and his wife catherine.

and the royal party leaving holyroodhouse. to begina to begin a journey towards a ceremony that the king is very deeply invested in. as we have heard, passionately rooted to scotland and its traditions, and to everything, gym, that today�*s ceremony represents. and everything, gym, that today's ceremony represents. everything, gym, that today's ceremon reresents. , . ., ceremony represents. and very much a service crafted —

ceremony represents. and very much a service crafted to _ ceremony represents. and very much a service crafted to indicate _ ceremony represents. and very much a service crafted to indicate that - ceremony represents. and very much a service crafted to indicate that it - service crafted to indicate that it is meant to be a service of dedication on his part to the tasks that he sees as urgent, the task of leadership from the throne, non—political leadership, if you like. and as he drives up, there are some voices of protest, which you can hear. it is a vigorous political atmosphere in scotland, as we all know, and has been for many years. but the nationalist first minister, of course, humza yousaf, is in st giles as keeper of the great seal of scotland. so everything comes together. scotland. so everything comes touether. �* ., . ., together. and worth reflecting that the kin: of together. and worth reflecting that the king of scots _ together. and worth reflecting that the king of scots is _ together. and worth reflecting that the king of scots is travelling - together. and worth reflecting that the king of scots is travelling to i the king of scots is travelling to st giles not to claim dedication from the people but to offer his service to the people, as we will hearin service to the people, as we will hear in the vows.— hear in the vows. indeed, and imaaine hear in the vows. indeed, and imagine what _ hear in the vows. indeed, and imagine what it _ hear in the vows. indeed, and imagine what it must - hear in the vows. indeed, and imagine what it must be - hear in the vows. indeed, and imagine what it must be to i hear in the vows. indeed, and i imagine what it must be to offer hear in the vows. indeed, and - imagine what it must be to offer the crown that was worn by james v at

the coronation of his second queen, mary. their daughter, mary, queen of scots, was crowned with this same crown at nine months old, and then her son, james vi, at only... well, 13, 14 months old, he becamejames i3, 14 months old, he becamejames of england, the wisest fool in christendom, as these to call him, in 1683, at the moment when the crowns came together, and of course, the king is deeply conscious of all these strands that come together in this ceremony. find these strands that come together in this ceremony-— these strands that come together in this ceremony. and the two previous charleses were _ this ceremony. and the two previous charleses were crowned _ this ceremony. and the two previous charleses were crowned with - this ceremony. and the two previous charleses were crowned with the - this ceremony. and the two previous l charleses were crowned with the same crown we will see today. yes, in 1651, before as we say, the crown was spirited—

was spirited way to get it out of the hands _ was spirited way to get it out of the hands of — was spirited way to get it out of the hands of cromwell, - was spirited way to get it out of the hands of cromwell, who - was spirited way to get it out of| the hands of cromwell, who was charging northwards. and it would be idle to suppose, wouldn�*t it, that the king is not conscious of that whole story at this moment, because history means so much to him, and it is worth remembering that he knows this city intimately. he has been coming here all his life. it is part of his being and part of his outlook, and this service in st giles�* will mean a great deal to him. it is bound to. i thought it was interesting listening to the piece a moment ago. the tunes that were played, of course, dark lochnagar is a reference to a great mountain mostly on the balmoral estate, looming up over the king�*s home in

aberdeenshire. the steep, crowning glories of dark lochnagar, as byron wrote, and it is a place that means a great deal to the king, where he walks, and a hill, a mountain he has known all his life. find walks, and a hill, a mountain he has known all his life.— known all his life. and his tastes in music and _ known all his life. and his tastes in music and in _ known all his life. and his tastes in music and in landscape - known all his life. and his tastes in music and in landscape very . known all his life. and his tastes - in music and in landscape very much are reflected all the way through the service that we are going to hear. ,, , , . the service that we are going to hear. ,,, , ., ., ., , hear. spends a lot of time up there aintin: hear. spends a lot of time up there painting it- — painting it. now we see the honours coming into st giles�* cathedral, and there is the table on which they will be laid. there is the crown, the sword, the elizabeth sword, the new sword. and the sceptre, carried by lady dorrian, chiefjustice clark.

the king has arrived. music: god save the king cheering we are being accompanied up the steps by the lord lyon, greeted by the minister of st giles, callum mcleod, and three pipers from the

king�*s old school, gordonstoun school, in another of these touches that he has been involved with planning himself. and in again, playing one of these genes that he has requested himself, because the band is a favourite of his, so every detail has gone across his desk. and the church waiting to receive the royal party at the beginning of the royal party at the beginning of the service. when there is the crown of scotland. —— and there is the crown of scotland. procession of clergy.

and the clergy procession passing the tables, where the honours of scotland await their presentation. the fanfare, balmoral flourishes. as the duke and dutch as of rothesay come into the cathedral. —— duke and

duchess. behind them, the lord lyon, and the king and queen. arriving in a church which they are both very familiar with. the duke of buccleuch behind of the king there, the head of the company of archer�*s, the king�*s bodyguard of scotland, which will be by his side. the royal party, seating themselves in front of the fine communion table, the centre of st giles. and on the other side of that, the honours.

# let the people praise thee, o god # yea, let all the people praise thee # 0 let the nations rejoice and be glad # for thou shaltjudge the folk righteously # and govern the nations upon earth.# # let the people praise thee, o god nations upon earth.# # let all the people praise thee nations upon earth.# welcome to st giles�* cathedral, the

high kirk of edinburgh, for this service of thanksgiving and dedication, as the king is presented with the honours of scotland, crown, sword and sceptre, symbolising his commitment to serving our nation with humility and compassion in his high calling. this church has had royal connections since it was chartered by king david the first of scotland in 1124. king james vi worshipped here. king george iv visited during his famous visit to edinburgh in 1822. and the late queen elizabeth received the honours of scotland here in 1953, and today, we welcome her heir, king charles iii, to be presented with the

honours. our help is in the name of the lord, the maker of heaven and earth. let us worship god. # ye gates, lift up your heads on high # ye doors that last for aye # be lifted up, that so the king of glory enter may. # but who of glory is the king? of glory enter may. # the mighty lord is this of glory enter may. # even that same lord of glory enter may. # that great in might and strong in battle is # even that same lord

# that great in might and strong in battle is. # ye gates, lift up your heads # ye doors, doors that do last for aye # be lifted up, that so the king of glory enter may # but who is he that is the king, the king of glory? # who is this? # the lord of hosts, and none but he # the king of glory is.

# alleluia! # amen, amen, amen.# from the rising of the sun to its setting, the lord�*s name is to be praised. let us pray. eternal and ever blessed god, worthy of praise from every mouth, of confession from every tongue, of worship from every creature,

is your glorious name. you sustain our world by your power, your compassion is over all your works, and your mercies never cease. glory be to you, creator of all life. god of faithful people in all times and places, today we lift up our hearts in gratitude for your steadfast love and goodness. you have given us a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. glory be to you, giver of all good gifts. god of all creation, in christ you gave us a new commandment that we should love one another, even as you love us. give us grace, we ask you, always to love one another, through the samejesus christ in whose words we pray together, saying:

all: our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. for ever and ever. amen. the old testament reading given by first minister humza yousaf from psalm 19. the heavens are telling the glory of god, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. day to day pours forth speech,

and night to night declares knowledge. there is no speech, nor are there words. their voice is not heard. yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. in the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and nothing is hidden from its heat.

now we hear psalm 23 sung in gaelic by the 2010 winner of the gaelic singing competition, joy dunlop. # dhomh dheasaich bord air beul mo namh. # le ola dh�*ung mo cheann. # cur thairis tha mo chopan fos, aig meud an lain a th�* ann. # ach leanaidh math os trocair rium. # an cian a bhios mi beo # is comhnaicheam an aros dhe # ri fad mo re �*s mo lo.#

# ach leanaidh math os trocair rium. # an cian a bhios mi beo # is comhnaicheam an aros dhe # ri fad mo re �*s mo lo.#

much enjoyed there. next we hear the beatitudes read in the scots tongue, it�*s from the first translation of the new testament into scots in 1520. and jesus seand the pepile, went up into an hill: and quhen he was set, his discipilis com to him: and he opnyt his mouth, and tauchte tham, and said, blessit be pure men in spirit: for the kingdom of heuenis is tharis. blessit be myld men: for thai sal weld the erde. blessit be thai that murnis: for thai salbe confortit.

blessit be thai that hungris and threstis richtwisnes: for thai salbe fulfillit. blessit be merciful men: for thai sal get mercy. blessit be thai that ar of clene hart: for thai sal se god. blessit be peciabile men: for thai salbe callit goddis childir. blessit be thai that suffiris persecutioun for richtwisnes: for the kingdom of heuenis is tharis. ye salbe blessit quhen men sal curse you, and sal persew you, and sal say al euil aganis you leand, for me. joy ye, and be ye glaid;

for your mede is plentuous in heuenis: for sa thai haue persewit alsa prophetis that war before you. music: "soay" from the lost songs of st kilda.

after that exquisite piece... after that exquisite piece... around sisters and brothers look around you, at this beautiful tapestry of humanity, scotland. what we learned when we listen to one another, humanity, scotland. what we learned when to listen to one another, humanity, scotland. what we learned when to understand, another, humanity, scotland. what we learned when to understand, not yther, humanity, scotland. what we learned when to understand, notjust',