SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has been officially sworn in as Scotland’s First Minister, making her the fifth person to hold the top job.
Ms Sturgeon received the Royal Warrant – formal approval of her appointment – at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
The formal proceeding, which took place before 15 senior judges, came less than 24 hours after MSPs at Holyrood elected the former deputy first minister as the new head of the Scottish Government.
She is due to take First Minister’s Questions at the Scottish Parliament for the first time in her new role this afternoon.
Ms Sturgeon succeeds Alex Salmond, who announced he would step down after a majority of voters rejected independence in September’s referendum.
The appointment sees the Glasgow Southside MSP make history by becoming Scotland’s first female leader.
Nicola Sturgeon formally sworn in as First Minister
