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Queen to mark 20 years of the Scottish Parliament Holyrood anniversary: Queen speaks of 'great affection for Scotland'
(about 4 hours later)
The Queen is to address the Scottish Parliament as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations. The Queen has spoken of her "great affection for Scotland" while marking Holyrood's 20th anniversary.
The ceremony will take place almost two decades to the day since the parliament officially assumed its legal powers. A ceremony took place two decades on from the Scottish Parliament taking on its legal powers.
The Queen, who will be accompanied by Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay, will formally address MSPs in the Parliament's Debating Chamber. The Queen told MSPs that she "fondly remembered" opening the parliament, and said that it "continues to be at the centre of Scottish public life".
The ceremony will also feature performances celebrating the best of Scottish music and culture. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the monarch that MSPs were "united by our desire to do our best for the people".
Young people who were born on the day the devolved parliament was convened on 1 July 1999 - will also join the events. The Queen, who was accompanied by Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay, spoke to each of Holyrood's party leaders personally as well as addressing them in the debating chamber.
The ceremony also featured performances of music, poetry and song celebrating Scottish culture.
Young people who were born on the day the devolved parliament was convened on 1 July 1999 were also part of the celebrations.
The so-called "1 July babies" were an integral part of the 10th anniversary celebrations in 2009.The so-called "1 July babies" were an integral part of the 10th anniversary celebrations in 2009.
The parliament was reconvened two years after Scotland voted overwhelmingly for devolution in a referendum in 1997. The modern parliament was set up two years after Scotland voted overwhelmingly for devolution in a referendum in 1997. It initially sat at the General Assembly in Edinburgh before moving to its £431m purpose-built home at Holyrood in 2004.
It initially sat at the General Assembly in Edinburgh before moving to its £431m purpose-built home at Holyrood in 2004.
The Queen was last in the landmark building in July 2016, marking the opening of the fifth session of the parliament.The Queen was last in the landmark building in July 2016, marking the opening of the fifth session of the parliament.
During the parliament's initial opening ceremony a specially-commissioned mace was unveiled in public for the first time - a gift from the Queen recognising the parliament's authority. She told MSPs that it was with "great pleasure" that she had been present at each stage of the parliament's lifetime, "including on landmark occasions such as today".
It will form part of the 20th anniversary celebrations. She said: "Twenty years on, this chamber continues to be at the centre of Scottish public life, as an important forum to engage and unite diverse communities and also a home for passionate debate and discussion.
The Mace and the Crown of Scotland will be carried into the debating chamber ahead of the Queen's address to MSPs. "Through new initiatives you continue to strive to be responsive and accountable to the people you serve, and to engage and involve those who might not otherwise participate in political debate."
Her address will be followed by speeches from the party leaders, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Queen also said it was her "sincere hope" that MSPs would "work tirelessly to improve people's lives and strengthen the bonds of friendship and partnership both at home and abroad".
She is the sixth person to hold the office since 1999. The first person to become first minister was Donald Dewar, who died after less than two years in the post. In response, Ms Sturgeon said the parliament may only be 20 years old, but "has long come of age".
Following the ceremonial proceedings in the debating chamber, the Queen and Prince Charles will attend a reception in the main hall. She said there had been times in the early years when "the sense of challenge possibly outweighed the sense of optimism", but said the hopes expressed for Holyrood in 1999 "to a great extent have been vindicated".
And she said that while politics can seem "more divided than ever", parties "can maintain our commitment to working together in the common good", saying even political opponents are "united by our desire to do our best for the people".
Other party leaders also addressed the special occasion , with Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson saying that Holyrood was "knitted into the fabric of our society", adding that "there is consensus that as a process, devolution has made our country stronger".