KING CHARLES III MARKS 25 YEARS
On September 28, 2024, King Charles III marked 25 years since the establishment of Scotland’s Parliament within the Parliament building in Edinburgh. This is a truly great milestone for not only the creation of a devolved Scottish government in 1999 but also embracing challenges and great achievements throughout Scotland’s political landscape of the past two and a half decades.
Emphasizing unity and core values
The monarch in his speech reiterated the values that the parliamentary mace epitomizes: wisdom, justice, compassion, and integrity. He said such values are actually the most Scottish of values as he pointed out that it is polarized and divided times we are living in. The King calls for hope, civility and generosity of spirit in political discourse that will help deal with complex issues in Scotland and the world.
He also elaborated on an important agenda of climate change:
There remains much more to be done, for Scotland, for the United Kingdom and in addressing the challenges we all share as inhabitants of a planet whose climate is changing dangerously.” And there are many Scots who find this appealing call to action amidst growing environmentalism.
In the ceremony
which he attended with his wife, Queen Camilla, in tow, he could not but remember rich bonding and time spent in Scotland. “To remember,” so said the monarch, in a speech full of touching moments that personalized the monarchy’s relation with the Scottish people, his memories of their mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, whom he remembered always taking some time at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire to end her days.
Anniversary gala Event Highlight featured speeches from leaders across the political divide, “maintaining that the great advances made since 1999, when the Parliament resumed, have changed Scotland for good”. In his speech, SNP’s First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland has made tremendous strides in becoming a fairer society through legislative measures on marriage equality and much more. He stated further, “I hope Scotland remains a ‘beacon of enlightenment.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay spoke out during his first appearance before the Parliament since taking on the role as he says many of his constituents, on the whole, feel “isolated” from the process. Brighter was the tone of Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar when he declared, “Scotland’s best days lie ahead of us.” Leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats Alex Cole-Hamilton referred to the Parliament as the “cathedral of ideas,” and that this was “the place where our combined strengths will influence the transformation of each of us.”.
But not all voices were shrill with celebration. Even Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie deemed the journey that brought the Parliament to this point “far from complete” and said the group’s work is much from over, particularly in environmental policy, which is critical and still warrants attention.
Outside of Parliament
however, a quiet protest was heard. Here, some republicans yelled “Not My King,” and were holding signs that read “Down with the Crown.” It doesn’t take long to think that even as the Parliament is being hailed for its successes, many Scots have complicated feelings about the monarchy.
Many artistes contributed to the sounds, from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to Còisir Alba-the Gaelic song chorus paying their respects to Scotland’s great cultural heritage.
The Majesties even visited the Scottish Parliament-the fitting finale to their visit to Scotland’s new Parliament. It was such an experience, reminding the House of Windsor of its unbreakable bond with Scotland. And the Scottish Parliament would determine Scotland’s future.
As the country of Scotland heads into its next quarter-century, the message of unity, strength, and action by the King on matters such as climate change is sure to remain as a constant refrain in all political debates along the way. Nostalgia should be called for in marking this anniversary, but also all Scots should be called out to participate towards making their democracy more inclusive and sustainable.
