King Charles to receive new sword at Scottish ceremony

A caller sword volition beryllium presented to King Charles erstwhile helium receives Scotland's crown jewels astatine a ceremonial successful Edinburgh.

An existing 16th Century sword which is portion of the Honours postulation is present excessively fragile truthful a caller Elizabeth Sword was commissioned for the occasion.

The Honours of Scotland are the oldest crown jewels successful the UK.

They dwell of the crown, sceptre and sword of state.

Traditionally, caller British monarchs are presented with them aft their coronation and this volition instrumentality spot astatine the Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication to beryllium held astatine St Giles adjacent week.

The Stone of Destiny volition besides beryllium successful St Giles' Cathedral for the work aft playing a important portion successful the Coronation astatine Westminster Abbey.

A people's procession of astir 100 assemblage groups volition cod The Honours from Edinburgh Castle and instrumentality them to the adjacent cathedral.

Then during the service, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE volition carnivore the Elizabeth Sword, with the sceptre carried by Lady Dorrian, The Lord Justice Clerk, and the crown volition beryllium carried by The Duke of Hamilton.

Dame Katherine said: "It volition beryllium an unthinkable honour to transportation the Elizabeth Sword connected specified a historical time for Scotland.

"I anticipation I tin bash the sword, and the occasion, justice. It promises to beryllium a time of tremendous solemnisation for the King and for the state and I consciousness immensely fortunate to beryllium capable to play a part."

Kathy Richmond, caput of collections, astatine Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which runs Edinburgh Castle wherever The Honours are kept, said: "Our squad of specialists volition enactment the Elizabeth Sword's ceremonial usage and volition beryllium aiming to marque it disposable for show soon aft the event.

"The Honours of Scotland are cared for by HES who are undertaking a task to conserve them implicit the adjacent fewer months.

"We anticipation to usage this accidental to connection a play of show for the Elizabeth Sword truthful it tin beryllium seen unneurotic with the historical regalia of the crown and sceptre."

The Elizabeth Sword outgo £22,000 to marque and was designed by Mark Dennis and worked connected by a fig of adept Scottish craftspeople.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: "The Honours of Scotland person immense humanities significance, having been contiguous astatine galore large ceremonial events implicit the past 500 years.

"Designed and crafted with attraction by immoderate of Scotland's finest artisans, the Elizabeth Sword is simply a fitting tribute to the precocious Queen arsenic Scotland prepares to invited the caller King and Queen adjacent week."