Queen hails decade of devolution with call to reflect Scots’ priorities

Fanfare and children’s party add to atmosphere as 81 of 129 politicians greet monarch

By Cameron Brooks

Published:

HOLYROOD GENERATION: The Queen with Eilidh Shaw, 10, second left, and other children born on July 1, 1999

The Queen addressed the Scottish Parliament yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of devolution.

She congratulated MSPs for working hard to address issues of real importance to people, adding that Holyrood had been embedded as an institution at the heart of Scottish life and culture.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen, who is fighting a cold, urged 81 of the 129 politicians in attendance to continue to reflect the “priorities and aspirations” of all the people of Scotland.

She told MSPs she has been following the parliament “with great interest” since it reconvened on July 1, 1999.

The Queen was accompanied throughout her visit by Holyrood Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson.

A number of MSPs, including Alasdair Allan, who represents the Western Isles, Aberdeen Central Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald and Finance Secretary John Swinney wore full Highland dress.

Mr Fergusson told MSPs that the Scottish Parliament had established itself as one of the most open and innovative in Europe but must never rest on its laurels.

First Minister Alex Salmond said Scotland was now “reflecting” on the challenges of the next decade.

“There are different visions, different proposals,” added the MSP for Gordon. “But at the heart of each is a genuine regard for what is best for the future of Scotland.”

The Queen and duke arrived in the main chamber to a fanfare by the Royal Scottish Academy Brass.

Scottish singer-songwriter Roddy Hart later played a rendition of the Burns song Nature's Law.

The royal couple later joined more than 140 10-year-olds from across Scotland for a giant birthday party to celebrate the occasion.

The youngsters were traced in an eight-month effort to find all 163 born in Scotland on July 1, 1999.

Matthew Mitchell of St John’s Terrace, Aberdeen, a pupil at Robert Gordon’s College, said: “It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be here and very exciting to meet the Queen. I was impressed.”

Steven Cameron, a pupil at Inverlochy Primary School at Fort William, said: “I am really pleased to be here and enjoying being around the Queen.”

Some 48 MSPs from all parties did not attend the event, which attracted a modest crowd of onlookers outside the parliament.

SNP chief whip Brian Adam, Aberdeen North MSP, and Liberal Democrat chief whip Mike Rumbles, who represents West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, decided to use the first week of Holyrood’s two-month summer recess to go on holiday.

North-east Labour MSP Richard Baker is in France with his MSP wife Claire Baker and north-east Lib Dem MSP Alison McInnes is understood to have had a dental appointment.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart was dealing with constituency business. It is not clear why his colleague Peter Peacock did not attend.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, Parliamentary Business Minister Bruce Crawford, Enterprise Minister Jim Mather and Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham were all on government business.

The Queen was presented with an unusual Stornoway-made Harris Tweed posy during her visit. It was created by florist Elizabeth Curran, a member of the Harris Tweed Artisans' Co-operative who has run her shop, Violet’s, at Stornoway, for 11 years.

She said: “I could not be happier. My next target is the catwalks of New York for Tartan Week. The posies take time to make but I hope people appreciate them.”