Third session of the scottish parliament - blue orca digital | Alan Taylor

Highlights of the day of events celebrating the start of the third session of parliament featuring a parade down the iconic Royal Mile followed by a picnic at the parliament next to Holyrood Park. At 10:20am, the Royal Company of Archers, Pursuivants, Heralds, and the Duke of Hamilton along with the Crown of Scotland made their to the Debating Chamber through the Conongate entrance awaiting the arrival of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 along with the Scottish Parliament Edinburgh's Mace bearer holding the Mace. After that, HM Queen along with the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Queensberry House, at the entrance of the Scottish Parliament on the Canongate, Royal Mile. They were both greeted by Rt Hon the Lord Provost and Councillor now current Lord Provost, George Grubb not forgetting Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh and the Lady Provost. The Lord Lieutenant presented the MSP, Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and MSP, Alasdair Morgan and finally the Deputy Presiding Officer. When they arrived, they went to the Garden Lobby to meet with Alex Salmond, the First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party, Jack McConnell of the Scottish Labor Party, Annabel Goldie MSP and Leader of the Scottish Conservatives and also Nicola Stephen, MSP and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. In the main chamber, a fanfare introduction was played in the chamber. The format of the session included the Presiding Officer opening the meeting formally welcoming British HM Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. At 11:00am, the riding took place departing from New Street onto the Canongate down the Royal Mile. Various community groups and representative for Scotland took part in a parade ending in Holyrood Park. These included Chiefs, Police, the Edinburgh Chinese Community, Bag pipes, Viking displays and other local musicians such as the Hot Chilie Peppers. At 12:00pm, the event turned into the picnic at the Parliament Scottish. Acts included at the picnics; the Blazin Fiddles, the TNT Bag Pipe Band in kilts, the talented Catriona Watt from the RSAMD Music academy, the Waa Sylla from Dancebase, Keith Jack, Salsa Celtica, Coisir Ghadhlig Inbhir Nis, an Inverness Gaelic Choir, Feis Rois, the Portobello Ceilidh Band and Idlewild completing a Celtic music flavour to the day. In addition to these performers, there were also performers inside the Garden Lobby inside the Parliament such as Jarls Squad 2007, Shetland's Up Hella Aa, Taiko Therapy from Beeslack Community High School in Penicuik, Midlothian. A few more performers included the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band and the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society from Edinburgh. The riding parade consisted of 1,200 people which is known historically as a procession marking the opening of Parliament which occured for each new meeting of Parliament up until the Treaty of Union in 1707. The riding started from Market Street heading down the Royal Mile. The parades began with the Royal Marines Band with their recognisable white helmets. The band on display is the Royal Marines Band Scotland who are based on HMS Caledonia, Rosyth and their musical director is called Captain Tony Smallwood, the drum major being Major Gavin Moxworthy. The marines were followed by educational groups created from East Syrshire MSYPs from Cumnock and Vivid LGBT group from Glasgow. Dance base followed close behind with the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band from Campbeltown in Argyll close behind. There were also Enterprise banners made from the Kible Education and Care Centre, Paisley and Momentum, Scotland. The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama was present having had an impressive history of success with their graduating and successful actors, Tom Conti, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Alan Cumming and James McAvoy. The Scottish Youth Theatre provides national theatre for and by young people, aged 3-25. Other notable participants included Lung Ha's Theatre Company, Ronak Baja and Te Pooka. I should note that there was a protest which took place too.