Meeting of the Parliament 09 May 2023
It is a great privilege to speak on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives in celebrating the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. It was an even greater privilege to witness the historic event at Westminster abbey in person on Saturday. Just over 2,000 guests were in the abbey for the two-hour service. Our own royal family, heads of state from around the world, members of European royal families, politicians and celebrities were there.
There were also 450 British empire medal recipients in the congregation. Among them were John Anderson from Fraserburgh, who received his BEM in 2020 for his community work during the pandemic, and Mary Nelson from Forres, who received her award in 2021 for the outstanding work that she had done for the Moray Fresh Start charity.
Scotland was also extremely well represented in the ceremony itself, by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness and the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who I am delighted to see with us in the chamber this afternoon.
On Saturday, those of us who were lucky enough to be in the abbey, and millions across the United Kingdom and around the world, were witnesses to the crowning of our new monarch. That event has not happened in this country for 70 years. It reflected rituals and traditions that, in some cases, date as far back as the formation of Scotland and England as nations, and it included objects such as St Edward’s chair and the stone of destiny, which have been associated with coronations north and south of the border for hundreds of years.
For most of us, we had seen such an event only in black and white footage or had read about it in books. It was made real before our very eyes. However, for all that we could see the weight of history among the grandeur, rousing music and pageantry of the moment, the message and the promise from the coronation ceremony and the celebrations over the weekend was a simple one: service. Indeed, that was the theme of the very first words from the King during the coronation. Replying to Samuel Strachan, His Majesty said:
“I come not to be served but to serve.”
That is service to our country and the Commonwealth, and service to all their people, regardless of their background and faith, and service to our natural world. Through that promise, His Majesty is continuing with the ideals and values of monarchy that were so resolutely upheld by his late mother over the long decades of her reign, but he is also showing a vision of the modern monarchy that he intends to lead. As he said on the day after he became monarch,
“wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the Realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.”
That is a concept of service that encompassed the events of the whole weekend.
The big lunch on Sunday was about bringing people together to celebrate community and tackle loneliness. The big help out on Monday was about getting more people involved in volunteering in their area. Last night, it was estimated that 6 million people had taken part in the big help out. That figure is expected to increase when the final numbers are known. It has been reported that almost 8 million people have said that they will, as a result of that celebration, be more likely to volunteer and help out. That is just one of the positive legacies from an incredible weekend.
As we look to the years ahead, we see a monarchy that has renewed its promise and commitment to the British people. As our country changes with the passing of time, the monarchy provides a tangible and constant link to our past and heritage. Yet, as we saw with the coronation weekend, the monarchy is not fixed in history; it changes and evolves to reflect our whole country’s modern values.
Where once the monarch would have been regarded as the defender of the faith, His Majesty pledged to defend all faiths. That promise was proudly underscored by the presence at his coronation of religious leaders from all faiths.
His Majesty is committed to promoting the inclusivity and diversity of our modern United Kingdom. With our country facing difficult and challenging times, the King has committed to putting service at the heart of his reign.
We in the Conservatives wish Their Majesties a long, happy and healthy reign. I repeat the words that we as a congregation said on Saturday. Long live King Charles. God save the King.
14:31