A cheering crowd greet King Charles during his visit to Dunfermline

Large crowds in Dunfermline cheered King Charles and the Queen Consort on a visit to mark the former town’s new status as a city. The ceremony was their first public visit since the official period of royal mourning for the Queen ended.

King Charles III said the event would “ gladden my dear mother’s heart”. The couple then visited Dunfermline Abbey before travelling to Edinburgh to host a reception celebrating the British South Asian community. After being met by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, and Fife’s Provost Jim Leishman, they walked across the cobbles to the waiting cheering crowd, reaching over the metal barriers to shake the hands of people who had queued to see the royal couple.

King Charles III said, “ We gather to celebrate this great occasion but also to commemorate the life of Her late Majesty whose deep love for Scotland was on of the foundations of her life.” He said he and his wife were “immensely proud” to be able to share the historic moment. “There could be no more fitting way to mark my beloved mother’s extraordinary life of service than by granting this honour to a place made famous by its own long and distinguished history, and by the indispensable role it has played in the life of our country”, he said. After the ceremony, the royal couple made the short walk to Dunfermline Abbey to formally mark its 950^th anniversary.