Queen Elizabeth II smiled broadly as she met members of the armed forces at an act of loyalty parade in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
The act of loyalty and presentation of the key to Edinburgh Castle marked the 200th anniversary of King George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822.
In heather-coloured silk wool dress and coat with a matching hat, all by Angela Kelly, the 96-year-old monarch joined services personnel at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to celebrate her platinum jubilee in the Scottish capital.
A parade and presentation of the key for Edinburgh Castle took place in Holyroodhouse palace gardens. The parade centred on the presentation of the key for Edinburgh Castle as part of the royal visit tradition and meeting with members of the services.
Queen Elizabeth, who walked with a stick, has had mobility issues in recent months, forcing her to miss a number of engagements, including the State Opening of Parliament and some of the official celebrations for her jubilee.
But she made her annual trip to Scotland and arrived in Edinburgh on Monday.
The army, navy and the air force were represented at the service and greeted the queen with a royal salute on her arrival in the gardens, followed by a meet and greet with three senior representatives from the services.
They were joined by three cadets, representing each service.
The key to the castle was then presented to the Queen by Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, governor of Edinburgh Castle, who was assisted by three service cadets at the palace’s Equerry’s Door.
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Queen Elizabeth in Scotland through the years — in pictures
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Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, is seated between her grandfather King George V and grandmother Queen Mary as they ride in a carriage back to Balmoral Castle in Scotland, in August 1935. All photos: Getty Images -
US president Dwight Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth inspecting a Guard of Honour at the gates of Balmoral, Scotland, in 1959. -
Prince Andrew perches on Prince Philip's lap during a picnic in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, with the queen, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, in 1960. -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip by a waterfall in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1972. -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with highland cattle at Balmoral in 1972. -
The queen, Princess Diana, and Prince Charles share a joke as they attend the Braemar Highland Games in 1982. -
Queen Elizabeth is surrounded by Scottish flags as she watches the procession along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to mark the formal opening of the Scottish Parliament in 2004. -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive to officially open the new headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Gogarburn, in 2005. -
The queen visits Stirling Castle, the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, in 2007. -
The queen and Prince Philip attend the Braemar Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in 2007. -
Queen Elizabeth, alongside Prince Charles, is presented with one of the first copies of 'Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, The Official Biography' by author William Shawcross in the garden at Birkhall, the Scottish home of the prince, in 2009. -
The royal family watch proceedings from their box at the 2009 Braemar Highland Games. -
The queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles leave the 'Hebridean Princess' boat after a family holiday around the Western Isles of Scotland, in Scrabster in 2010. -
Queen Elizabeth and Pope Benedict XVI leave the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, after a visit by the pope in 2010. -
The queen meets guests at a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, in 2014. -
The queen and Prince Philip arrive at 'HMS Queen Elizabeth' in Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, where she formally named the Royal Navy's biggest ever ship in 2014. -
Queen Elizabeth attends the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park. -
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on board the steam locomotive 'Union of South Africa' in 2015, in Edinburgh. -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles watch competitors at the Braemar Gathering in 2016. -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince William visit AG Barr's factory, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured, in Cumbernauld in 2021. -
The queen during an inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5 Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Balmoral in 2021. -
The queen and Prince Charles pose at Balmoral Estate Cricket Pavilion with children from nearby Crathie Primary School, to mark the start of the official planting season for the queen's Green Canopy in October 2021.
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The Major General addressed the Queen, saying: “We, the serving members of Your Majesty’s Armed Forces, bound by our oath to You, your Heirs and Successors, offer for Your gracious acceptance the Key to Your Majesty’s Royal Castle of Edinburgh.”
To which she responded: “I return this key to the safekeeping of My Governor of Edinburgh Castle, in gratitude for the symbolic Act of Loyalty of Our Armed Forces, confident of your faithful allegiance to your oath.”
Three cheers for the Queen were then given by members of the armed forces before a pipe tune composed for the platinum jubilee called Dieu Ragnari was played as she waved goodbye and returned to the palace.
On Tuesday afternoon, Anne, Princess Royal, will then present honours in an investiture ceremony at the palace.
Among those to be recognised will be James McGoldrick, the assistant general secretary of the UN, and Ross McEwan, the chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
