King and Queen visit to Edinburgh July 2023: events
Details of events taking place on 5 July to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla, including timings and viewing opportunities.
Scotland will mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla on Wednesday 5 July, during Royal Week in Edinburgh.
The King, accompanied by The Queen, will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles’ Cathedral. This will follow a people’s procession on the Royal Mile.
Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay will also attend events.
How to watch the events
You can watch the events on television. You can also listen to the National Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving on BBC Radio 3
If you want to watch the people’s procession in person, there will be viewing opportunities along the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
If you are planning to attend:
- public transport will be very busy so plan your journey in advance – more information below
- allow plenty of time to get there as there will be limited space on pavements along the Royal Mile (access to key areas may be restricted for safety reasons)
- be prepared to stand for a number of hours in changeable weather
Timings
1315: People’s Procession leaves Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
1330: People’s Procession arrives at West Parliament Square
1340: The Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels) leave the Castle Esplanade under military and police escort
1340: Military bands and Household Cavalry Mounted Regiments depart from Palace of Holyroodhouse to West Parliament Square
1350: The Honours arrive at West Parliament Square
1405: Royal Procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse
1410: Royal Procession arrives at St Giles’ Cathedral
1415: National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication begins - order of service attached
1515: Service ends
1520: King and Queen exit St Giles. Royal Gun Salute from Edinburgh Castle
1540: RAF flypast
Travel
Public transport in areas where ceremonial events are taking place will be very busy. As a result, journeys may take longer than usual.
People are encouraged to plan journeys in advance and check routes before travelling. Information is available from Traffic Scotland
In the interests of public safety and to increase public access to ceremonial events there will be road closures around the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Further information is available from the City of Edinburgh Council.
People’s Procession
A People’s Procession of around 100 people representing aspects of Scottish life including charities and public services, will process from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles’ Cathedral.
The People’s Procession 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.
A wide range of organisations in Scotland will take part in the Procession.
People's Procession: organisations taking part
- Angus and Dundee Battalion ACF
- Assembly of the Feudal Baronage
- Bakers
- Boys Brigade
- Bonnet Makers & Dyers
- British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch
- Cairngorms National Park Authority
- Candlemakers
- City of Edinburgh Council School Crossing Patrol
- College of Master Kilt Tailors
- Coopers
- Cordiners
- Clydeview Academy
- Dogs Trust
- Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- Fleshers
- Girls' Brigade in Scotland
- Glasgow Life – Museums
- Goldsmiths
- Heraldry Society of Scotland
- National Museums Scotland
- National Piping Centre
- National Trust for Scotland
- National Services Scotland,
- NHS
- Northern Lighthouse Board
- Police Roll of Honour Trust
- Princes’ Foundation
- Princes Trust
- Representation for the Refugee Community
- RNID
- RNLI
- Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
- Royal British Legion Scotland
- Royal College of Nursing Scotland
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal Company of Merchants of The City of Edinburgh
- Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Royal Mail Group
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Royal Scottish Highland Games Association
- Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance
- Royal Yacht Brittannia Edinburgh
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
- Samaritans
- ScotRail
- Scottish Ambulance Service
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Scottish Fishermen's Organisation
- Scottish Parliament
- Scottish Tartans Authority
- Scottish Youth Parliament
- Scouts Scotland
- Skinners & Glovers
- St Andrew's First Aid
- Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs
- Surgeons
- Tailors
- Trades Houses of Scotland
- Weavers
- Wrights
Honours of Scotland
The Honours of Scotland are the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain which have been present at many of the major royal ceremonial events over the past five centuries.
The Honours will be brought by vehicle from Crown Square to the Castle Esplanade and down the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral by the Lyon King of Arms, Marchmont Herald and Carrick Pursuivant.
They will be escorted by The King’s Body Guard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers and a Guard of Honour formed by contingents of the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
Royal Procession
The King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay will travel from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral in a Royal Procession.
The Royal Procession 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.
National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication
The National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication will take place at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The Stone of Destiny will be in the Cathedral for the service.
Three pipers from His Majesty The King’s former school Gordonstoun will play for The King at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The Congregation will be made up of people from various walks of life in Scotland including the First Minister, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Political Party Leaders, the People’s Procession, Church and Faith Communities and the charity and voluntary sectors.
See order of service attached.
Gun Salute and RAF Flypast
A 21-Gun Salute will fire from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the St Giles’ Service, before the Royal Procession travels back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The 21 Gun Saluting troop will be 12 Regiment Royal Artillery.
There will also be a fly past by the Red Arrows following the event.
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback