University Of Edinburgh performs crucial role in Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla
His Majesty King Charles III will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The Honours — the oldest crown jewels in Britain — will move from Edinburgh Castle to the Cathedral by a People’s Procession, involving around 100 people representing aspects of Scottish life.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson will attend the service on behalf of the institution.
On behalf of our students, staff and alumni, I extend our warmest congratulations to His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson
Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Edinburgh
University community
Members of the University community will have key roles in the Coronation celebrations.
Honorary Professorial Fellow Rev Professor David Fergusson will lead the National Service of Thanksgiving.
Professor Fergusson was Principal of the University of Edinburgh’s New College from 2008 to 2018. He is currently Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland and Dean of the Order of the Thistle.
Liz Grant, Professor of Global Health and Development at the University’s Usher Institute and Assistant Principal (Global Health), will read a prayer during the service.
The new Sword of State for Scotland
Sword of State
Alongside the Honours of Scotland, the King will also be presented with a new Sword of State for Scotland – ‘The Elizabeth’.
The University of Edinburgh’s Professor Godfrey Fitton from the School of GeoSciences was part of the team who created the sword.
Professor Fitton and Dr Mairghread Ellis from Queen Margaret University selected the stone, made from Lewisian gneiss, and shaped it into a polished sphere for the pommel of the sword.
The work on the pommel – the sword’s counterweight found at the bottom of the grip – was carried out at the Scottish Mineral and Lapidary Club in Leith.
Royal connections
The Royal Family has a number of links with the University of Edinburgh.
King Charles visited the University in 2008 to open a breast cancer research unit at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, formerly known as the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine.
The Princess Royal is Edinburgh’s eighth Chancellor, succeeding her father the late HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as Chancellor in 2011.
Since taking up the position The Princess Royal has been a great supporter of the University and has visited on numerous occasions, meeting with many students and staff.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was also a great supporter of the University throughout her life, first visiting the University in 1949, as Princess Elizabeth, to receive an honorary degree.