IT is one of the most ancient public ceremonies in Scottish history and yesterday it again drew a crowd of spectators around the Mercat Cross on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to hear the official proclamation of the dissolution of the UK Parliament.
The formal proclamation summoning a new UK Parliament ahead of the General Election was made by the Lord Lyon King of Arms standing atop the Mercat Cross in the shadow of St Giles Cathedral.
Dr Joseph Morrow QC, the current Lord Lyon, also performed the ceremony in 2015. The former Labour councillor in Dundee wore his traditional robes of office and was flanked by his colleagues from the Lyon Court also attired in their various Heraldic robes and carrying their batons of office.
The ceremony dates back to before the Act of Union of 1707, and can only be carried out after the Royal assent is given – the proclamation was signed by the Queen at Windsor Castle at a meeting of the Privy Council on Tuesday.
Yesterday the Lord Lyon was accompanied by the Sheriff Clerk representing the Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders, Her Majesty’s Officers of Arms and the State Trumpeters of Scotland. A Guard of Honour from Balaklava Company, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland were also present.
The ceremony, on the historic Royal Mile, involved Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for Edinburgh in his capacity as chief executive of the City of Edinburgh Council.
“Today marks a pivotal moment in the political calendar,” he said. “As we observed this historic occasion residents across the city were casting their own votes in the local election.”
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