A major firearms operation has been launched to protect the Royal family and government ministers in the biggest security exercise mounted in Orkney since World War II.
The Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and several senior political and military figures are expected to be present at the Battle of Jutland centenary commemorations in Kirkwall later this month.
Guests will also include descendants of people lost in the largest naval battle of World War I, while representatives of various Commonwealth countries will also be present at St Magnus Cathedral on May 31.
Security around the event is so tight that guests will be routinely searched before they enter the cathedral.
Planning around the event has been ongoing for several months, with extra police being drafted in from across Scotland, including specialist armed officers who are not normally stationed in Orkney.
The Metropolitan Police has also offered their expertise in royal protection.
A second event will be held on the same day at the Royal Naval Cemetery in Lyness on Hoy, which will also be attended by Prince Phillip.
Orkney area commander Chief Inspector Gordon Deans believes the security operation could well be the largest staged in the islands for decades.
He said: “It’s such a significant event for the whole of the country, not just for us in Orkney.
“It is the biggest police operation we have had in a long time, probably event since the end of World War II.
“We’ve had major inquiries of course, where resources come in, but for a one day event we’ve never had anything really on this scale.”
Another major commemoration event will be held on June 5 to commemorate the sinking of HMS Hampshire, bearing the secretary of state for war Lord Kitchener, off the Orkney coast 100 years ago.
Specialist police will also be drafted in for the memorial at Marwick Head, though not to the same extent as the Jutland service in Kirkwall.
Ch Insp Deans added: “For us in Orkney there’s a week long series of events that starts with Jutland and ends with Hampshire, not all of that will involve police input of course.
“There will be a lot of community work going on and visiting ships and so on.
“It’s very exciting. For us it’s an extra layer on top of the day job.”
Superintendent Tony Beveridge, who oversees firearms operations in the north of Scotland, has been heavily organised in the security operation.
He has visited Orkney a number of times in the last few weeks during the planning.
Both he and Ch Insp Deans are confident the event will pass without incident – although he said the operation required a number of “specialisms” not normally available in Orkney.
Supt Beveridge said there would be a “firearm umbrella over the operation”, adding: “I’m involved because the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne and perhaps some of the government people that are going to be coming along will be protected persons so there has been a firearms element to that.
“I’ve taken an interest in the overall planning, because from our point of view Orkney doesn’t have the kind of specialisms that we normally put in place for this so we need to import things.
“The main event is obviously on May 31, we have a significant event at the cathedral with invited guests, VIPs, the first minister is coming among others.
“There will be naval people here and it’s very much to be an atmosphere of commemoration, remembrance and reconciliation.”