A Royal State Visit in 1994

A Royal State Visit in 1994

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A Royal State Visit

The full version of 'A Royal State Visit in 1994'

The full version of 'A Royal State Visit in 1994' [60 minutes long]

Essential work was carried out on Edinburgh’s streets a week before the Royal and Royal State Visit were due to take place. Roads were repaired and litter bins and pillar boxes were sealed up to ensure security.

Flags were erected along the designated routes and signs were posted to warn motorists of the parking restrictions for the forthcoming event.

On Friday 1 July and Saturday 2 July 1994, preparation were made for the rehearsals. The streets were cleaned earlier, and any cars that were on the streets were removed to another location, and the streets were gritted to stop the horses and carriages sliding on Edinburgh’s cobbled streets.

Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city is no stranger to Royal and Royal State visits. King Olav of Norway was made a Freeman of the city of Edinburgh during a Royal State visit in 1962, and Edinburgh’s last Royal State visit was in 1975 when King Carl of Sweden visited Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has a wealth of experience in Royal and Royal State visits.

On Friday 1 July 1994, the Household Cavalry rode up the Royal Mile on horseback, as the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town was the venue for the first of three rehearsals.

The first rehearsal was for the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle which was being held in St Giles Cathedral on Monday 4 July 1994.

Gritting the street for the horses

Repairing the streets for Royal State Visit

Removing cars for rehearsal

Preparing the barriers

The riders on their horses were escorting the Scottish State Coach and a landau up to St Giles Cathedral. On the rehearsals, the Scottish State Coach and landau were empty apart from the footmen who were sitting on the back checking the timing.

It was as if someone had turned the clock back a hundred years, to stand on an empty street at six in the morning and watch the Household Cavalry escorting these carriages on Edinburgh’s Streets was a magnificent sight.

On the rehearsals, the troopers from the Blues and Royals were wearing their number two dress. Their number one dress would be used at the event on the Monday.

The Scottish State Coach was built in 1830 and originally belonged to Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. A granddaughter of George III and mother of Queen Mary.

The coach has the Royal Arms for Scotland and the Insignia of the Order of the Thistle on its sides, and it also has a model of the crown of Scotland on its roof.

This rehearsal was to check the timing and the route for the ceremony of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle with the Queen on Monday 4 July 1994. Once the rehearsal at St Giles Cathedral was over, the sovereigns escort escorted the Scottish State Coach and landau back to the Palace of Holyrood house.

On Saturday 2 July 1994, two rehearsals were held. One for the Royal State visit which would take place on Tuesday 5 July 1994. And the other for a civic lunch which would be held on Wednesday 6 July 1994.

Rehearsal are essential

Back to Holyrood Palace

The Scottish State Coach

To the Royal Mews

During the rehearsal, two pipe bands led the guard of honour along Princes Street to their position. The Royal Navy and the Royal Marines were doing the same at the West end while the Royal Air Force were at the East End of Princes Street and North Bridge.

The Royal Marine Band played music while they waited for the sovereigns escort and the landaus for the rehearsal of the Royal State drive past.

Princes Street at six O’clock in the morning was quite and there was only a few people on the pavements, and they appeared to be going to their work as the landaus and the sovereigns escort passed them by.

The Royal Air Force band and their guard of honour were located on North Bridge and the East end of Princes Street. The guard of honour would only be used for the Royal State drive past on Tuesday 5 July 1994. That was when King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway would arrive in Edinburgh.

At the first rehearsal on Saturday 2 July 1994, the sovereigns escort escorted the landaus from Charlotte Square to the Palace of Holyrood house.

In the second rehearsal, they escorted the landaus from the Palace of Holyrood house to the Assembly Rooms in George Street where the civic lunch would be held on Wednesday 6 July 1994.

After the rehearsals were over the landaus with their grooms and postillions were returned to the Royal Mews at the Palace of Holyrood house.

The events to follow would now be in full dress uniform.

Pipes and Drums on rehearsals

Royal Marines lining the route

The Royal Air Force taking orders

Lining the route on Princes Street

Monday 4 July 1994 was a wet and windy day. But this did not dampen the publics enthusiasm as they started to gather outside St Giles Cathedral to watch the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle Ceremony which was being held at the Thistle Chapel in St Giles Cathedral.

The Queen was ordaining Fitzroy McLean in to the order. The Queen as sovereign, is the head of the order and its sixteen knights.

As this is not an hereditary honour, when a knight dies, the Queen appoints a new knight to take his place. New knights are normally installed by the Queen in the summer.

As the guests arrived for the service in St Giles Cathedral, the Royal Company of Archers marched from Edinburgh Castle to parade on West Parliament Square which is at the front of St Giles Cathedral.

The Royal Company of Archers are the sovereigns bodyguard for Scotland and they can be traced back to 1676. And there is reason to believe that the period of its organisation extends further than the dates of its records.

The Royal Company of Archers attend a verity of Royal Duties such as the annual garden party and the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. They also attend Royal and Royal Sate Visits. The Royal Company of Archers were in attendance in 1962 when King Olav of Norway came to Edinburgh, and again in 1975 when King Carl of Sweden came to Edinburgh.

The Queen was driven up the Royal Mile in the Scottish State Coach for the Ceremony. The Sovereigns Escort, The Household Cavalry escorted the Scottish State Coach and the landau to St Giles Cathedral. The Duke of Edinburgh accompanied the Queen in the Scottish State Coach. On arriving at St Giles Cathedral, the national anthem was played.

Knights of the Thistle

St Giles Cathedral

A Military Band Playing the National Anthem

Heralds and Pursivants outside St Giles Cathedral

For this service, the knights wear their robes of green velvet with the star of the order on the left shoulder and a plumed hat of black velvet. They also have two medals showing St Andrew. One worn on a green ribbon and the other suspended from a collar of gold thistles.

When the service was over, the heralds and pursivants led the knights of the order to the Signet Library which is to the South of Parliament Square. The heralds and pursivants wear tabards and carry black ebony batons which are gold tipped at each end with an embossed crown on one end and a thistle at the other.

A page boy carried the Queen robe as they made their way to the Signet Library.

A former Diplomat, Member of Parliament, and Member of the Special Air Services, Fitzroy McLean of Dunconnel was installed as a member of Scotland’s most distinguished order of chivalry. The Queen appointed eighty three year old Fitzroy McLean as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle was revived in 1687 by King James the VII. But it fell in to abeyance when he abdicated. Queen Anne restored the order again in 1703.

The chapel was built for the knights between 1909 and 1911 by the Earl of Leven and his brothers. It had been their fathers wish to restore the ruined chapel at the Palace of Holyrood house. But this was found to be impossible.

St Giles Cathedral where the service was held is the parish church of Edinburgh. Built soon after the town received the status of Burgh in 1130. It was in 1633 that Charles I made St Giles in to a Cathedral.

Waiting for the Queen outside St Giles Cathedral

The Queen arriving at At Giles Cathedral

Knights of the Thistle Service in progress

Lined up on the Royal Mile

When the ceremony was over, The Queen came out of the Signet Library with the Duke of Edinburgh. They entered the Scottish State Coach to be driven back to the Palace of Holyrood house.

As they left Parliament Square, the national anthem was played. The sovereigns escort, the Household Cavalry, escorted the Scottish State Coach and the landau back to the Palace of Holyrood house.

With the ceremony over, the Royal Company of Archers marched back to Edinburgh Castle led by the Royal Scots Band.

On Tuesday 5 July 1994, Edinburgh was preparing its-self for the Royal State Visit. Members of the public had arrived early to make sure that they had the best positions.

The bands and the guard of honour had their number one dress on and they were marching with fixed bayonets for this special occasion.

King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway had arrived at Leith Docks on the Royal Yacht Norge. They were met by Leith’s High Constables before being driven to Charlotte Square

While they were being driven up from Leith the final preparations were being made on the designated route. The guard of honour were being inspected by the Officer Commanding.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were driven from the Palace of Holyrood house by car to Charlotte Square. King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway were meeting the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Household at the dais in Charlotte Square.

From Charlotte Square they joined the Royal State Procession that went along Princess Street and on to the Palace of Holyrood house.

The Sovereigns Escort, the Household Cavalry escorted the landaus as they made their way along Princes Street

The first landau passed with the Queen who sat with King Harald of Norway by her side with the Sovereigns Escort leading the way. Traveling in the second landau was the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Sonja of Norway, and the third landau had the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in it, while the following landaus had other members of the Royal Household.

The Sovereigns Escort and landaus passed along Princess Street under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle while a twenty one gun salute was being fired from the guns at the Castle.

The Royal Marine Band played the Norwegian National Anthem as the landaus passed along Princes Street and while the guard of honour presented arms.

Edinburgh had not had a Royal State Visit for nineteen years and members of the public had gathered in large numbers to make sure they were not going to miss welcoming King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway.

The route which had barriers along it for security reasons was lined with people eager to see the Royal families, the Blues and Royals and the carriages as they made their way along Princes Street.

The postillions and the footmen added colour as a hundred and forty three horses went through the streets of Edinburgh.

Unravelling the flags

Preparing the route for the Royal State drive past

Colour party taking up position

Checking the route

From Charlotte Square they joined the Royal State Procession that went along Princess Street and on to the Palace of Holyrood house.

The Sovereigns Escort, the Household Cavalry escorted the landaus as they made their way along Princes Street

The first landau passed with the Queen who sat with King Harald of Norway by her side with the Sovereigns Escort leading the way. Travelling in the second landau was the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Sonja of Norway, and the third landau had the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in it, while the following landaus had other members of the Royal Household.

The Sovereigns Escort and landaus passed along Princess Street under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle while a twenty one gun salute was being fired from the guns at the Castle.

The Royal Marine Band played the Norwegian National Anthem as the landaus passed along Princes Street and while the guard of honour presented arms.

The postillions and the footmen added colour as a hundred and forty three horses went through the streets of Edinburgh.

The Queen and King Harald of Norway

Queen Sonja and the Duke of Edinburgh

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York

Royal Escort on Princes Street

People lined the balconies on buildings and sat at windows to watch this once in a lifetime event.

Once the Royal State Procession had passed, they watched the guard of honour, the colour parties and the bands marching off of Princes Street. On this Royal State Visit there would only be one more procession with the landaus, the Sovereigns Escort, and the Household Cavalry. That would be held the next day.

Meantime the Royal families had other engagements during their Royal and Royal State Visit to Scotland.

On Tuesday the 5 July 1994, the Prince of Wales enthusiasm took him to the Tron Kirk at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

As the Prince of Wales arrived at the former Kirk he was greeted by hundreds of people who were there to welcome him.

The Prince of Wales was met by representatives from the Old Town Association who showed him around the Tron Kirk which is now used as a visitor Information Center for tourists.

The Prince of Wales emerged at the rear of the Tron Kirk to be shown Dolphin House which is an (A) listed building.

The Building in Hunter Square was designed and constructed between 1788 and 1790 for the Merchant Company of Edinburgh.

It was explained to the Prince of Wales how Hunter Square was being transformed with careful planning.

The Prince of Wales arriving at the Tron Kirk

The Prince of Wales being greeted

Looking at the plans of Hunters Square

The Prince of Wales speaking with tourists

The Prince of Wales was shown the plans and the drawings of Dolphin House and he met some of the workmen who were working on the site.

The Prince of Wales has a great interest in architecture and he was keen to see part of the transformation of this building.

The Prince of Wales was also keen to meet members of the public who had gathered at Hunters Square. As he walked over to number ten Hunter Square, he talked and shook hands with members of the public who were highly delighted to see him in Edinburgh’s Old Town. As he walked around Hunters Square he spoke to some Italian tourists and old town residents who were delighted to have met him.

The Prince of Wales went in to number ten Hunter Square to see how the former derelict building had been turned into nine small flats. Hunter Square has been transformed and the work was nearly finished.

When the Prince of Wales came out of number ten Hunter Square he again went around shaking the hands of the people who had gathered in Hunters Square.

Before the Prince of Wales got into his car to go to another engagement, he again spoke to the representatives of the Old Town Association, as he got into his car to be driven away.

The Prince of Wales leaving Hunters Square

State Procession going to civic lunch

King Harald and Queen Sonja with the Duke of York

Leaving the Assembly Rooms

On Tuesday 5 July 1994, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway paid a visit to the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle.

A guard of honour was in place at the castle drawbridge for the Norwegian Royals who paid their respects to the brave men and woman killed during the last war.

On Wednesday 6 July 1994, the sovereigns escort, the Household Cavalry escorted the landaus to the Assembly Rooms in George Street.

Members of the public had again lined the route to see this Royal State Procession as it made its way up the Royal Mile and down North Bridge onto Princes Street.

Edinburgh had been fortunate with the weather, it had stayed dry throughout the Royal State Processions.

This was the last State Procession on this Royal State Visit.

Earlier on in the morning, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway arrived at Heriot Watt University to view an exhibition in the library. Degrees of Doctor of the University were conferred on their Majesties by the Chancellor of the University - Lord MacKay of Clashfern.

In the first landau, King Harald and Queen Sonja were being accompanied from the Palace of Holyrood house to the civic lunch by the Duke of York while other members of the Royal Household followed behind in the other landaus.

The sovereigns escort appeared in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1993 and were also in Scotland in 1977 for the Queens Silver Jubilee.

The planning that went into these processions had been worked out months in advance by Lothian and Borders Police Force and Lothian Regional Transport.

Traffic had been rerouted to create the minimum of disruption to Edinburgh’s main street, Princes Street has a number of events throughout the year. So Edinburgh is well rehearsed in such occasions.

Going back to the Royal Mews

King Harald leaving the Assembly Rooms

Duke of York leaving the Assembly Rooms

Queen Sonja being greeted by Norwegian children

When King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway with the Duke of York arrived at the Assembly Rooms in George Street, the landaus were returned to the Royal Mews at the Palace of Holyrood house.

At the Assembly Rooms in George Street a civic lunch was being held with the cities Lord Provost and Council Members. King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway along with the Duke of York were the main guests.

When the lunch was over Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, The Right Honorable Norman Irons escorted King Harald to his car. The bearers of the sword and mace stood on each side of the Assembly Room doors. King Harald saluted Anne Irons the Lord Provosts wife before getting into his car to go to Royal Air Force Turnhouse.

King Harald was paying a visit to a Govan Shipyard in Glasgow.

Next to come out of the Assembly Rooms was the Duke of York. He bid farewell to the Lord Provost and his wife before going on to another engagement.

Members of the many consulates, and the Heralds and Pursivants from the Lord Lyons Office made their way to their cars.

The Assembly Rooms and Music Hall in George Street is in the New Town, and the building was originally opened in 1787. There has been many changes inside, but the principal interiors remain the same.

Later on in the afternoon Queen Sonja was going to Princes Street Gardens to plant a tree at the Norwegian stone and meet the Norwegian Community.

Bowing for the Queen

Queen Sonja with Consulate

At the stone of remembrance

Flowers for Queen Sonja

Later on in the same evening King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway would be going to see a performance of Sleeping Beauty with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of York along with other members of the Royal Household.

With it being a nice day, Queen Sonja of Norway decided to walk down to Princes Street Gardens. She was accompanied by the Lord Provost and His Wife.

The Norwegian community had already assembled in Princes Street Gardens along with a band from the Royal Yacht Norge. She spoke to the children before going over to the Norwegian Stone which was erected in 1978.

When Queen Sonja of Norway reached the Gardens she was greeted by two Norwegian children who presented her with flowers. She spoke to the children before going over to the Norwegian Stone which was erected in 1978.

The Norwegian National Anthem was played as Queen Sonja stood at the stone. The inscription on this memorial stone reads:

“During the war years - 1940 to 1945. The Norwegian Brigade and other army units were raised and trained in Scotland. Here we found hospitality, friendship and hope during dark years of exile. In grateful memory of our friends and allies on these isles, this stone was erected in 1978”.

Queen Sonja stood deep in thought for a while before going over to plant a tree with the Lord Provost and the children. The children were keen to help with the planting of the tree.

When the tree planting ceremony was over Queen Sonja went over to meet and speak to the band.

Queen Sonja going to plant a tree

Queen Sonja leaving Princes Street Gardens

Queen Sonja was also keen to meet the Norwegian community that lives in Edinburgh. She walked around and met many of the people who had been invited for this Royal engagement.

Lord Provost Norman Irons and his wife accompanied Queen Sonja as she walked through Princes Street Gardens. When the visit was over, Queen Sonja walked to her car where the Lord Provost and his wife saw her off.

On Wednesday 6 of July 1994, Edinburgh’s new Festival Theatre was graced with a visit by two Royal families, members of the Royal Household and invited guests.

The New Festival Theatre which stands on Surgeon’s Hall was rebuilt and opened its doors to the public for the first time on the 18 June 1994.

Crowds of people had gathered outside the Festival Theatre to welcome the Royal Families who were going in to see a performance of Sleeping Beauty.

Lord Provost Norman Irons and his wife Anne arrived at the Festival Theatre to welcome the Royal Families.

Members of the Royal Household were the first to arrive at the Festival Theatre.

When King Harald and Queen Sonja arrived with the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of York at the Festival Theatre, they were greeted with three cheers from members of the public.

Official opening of the Festival Theatre

The Royal parties arriving at the Festival Theatre

King Harald and the Duke of York

The Royal parties leaving the Festival Theatre

Ian Lang at the Festival Theatre

George Younger at the Festival Theatre

Where the new theatre now stands stood the Empire Theatre which was turned into a Bingo Hall. In its days as a theatre it had many famous performers such as Harry Lauder, Charles Laughton, Laurel and Hardy, Margo Fonteyn, Roy Rodgers and his horse Trigger, Gracie Fields, Judy Garland, Fats Waller and Sophie Tucker with many more famous names.

When the performance was over the Royal families returned back to the Palace of Holyrood house which is at the bottom of Edinburgh’s Old Town Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle is one mile to Holyrood house.

A new era begins with the building of the new Festival Theatre. A magnificent building and the people of Edinburgh hope it will see as many famous faces as it starts its life again as a new theatre.

On Thursday 7 July 1994, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were making a visit to the National Museum of Scotland which is in Edinburgh's Chamber Street.

The Lord Provost, The Right Honorable Norman Irons and his wife Anne had arrived to greet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Members of the public had again gathered outside the museum, and the police had let children sit on the inside of the barrier for a better view of their Monarch.

When the Queen arrived at the museum they were welcomed before going up the stairs and into the museum.

Once inside the museum, the Queen unveiled a specially carved stone called the threshold stone. The inscription on the stone reads: To Scotland. To the world. The stone would later be set into the floor at the junction between Captain Francis Fowkes Victorian Royal Museum of Scotland and Benson and Forsyth’s new museum of Scotland.

A Royal State Procession

The Pipes and Drums of Scotland

Practice on Princes Street

King Harald and Queen Sonja

The stone was cut from Clashfern Sandstone from Elgin - Morayshire - which will be used for the walls and floors throughout the new building.

The new museum is being built and will open in 1998. When it opens, it will present a unique picture of Scotland as a nation.

When the Queen came out of the Museum, she was presented with a bunch of flowers from some children who had come from Hawick before getting into her car to go on to another engagement.

On the evening of Thursday the 7 July 1994, the band from the Norwegian Royal Yacht Norge had gathered on Parliament Square West to welcome guests to a reception which was being held for King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway.

As guests arrived, the band played music, and after the reception in the Signet Library, King Harald and Queen Sonja were hosting a banquet on the Royal Yacht Norge for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Earlier on in the day, King Harald and Queen Sonja had made a visit to Orkney - the Isles of Scotland.

On Friday the 8 July 1994, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway were departing from Edinburgh bringing to an end this Royal State visit.

Edinburgh’s Royal days are fondly remembered as Edinburgh says farewell to their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York.

As we say in Scotland to all our visitors: ‘Haste ye back to bonnie Scotland’.

Written by Andrew Murphy of Edinburgh

Voice, Research, Images and commentary by Andrew Murphy

Video and Soundtrack from 'Royal Memories' Video produced by Andrew Murphy 1994

To see this video in sections click the link below:

An introduction to a Royal State Visit Rehearsals of a Royal State Visit in Edinburgh

Rehearsals on Princes Street The last rehearsal for the Royal State visit

At St Giles Cathedral for the first of the ceremonies A Knight of St Giles Cathedral

Before the drive past The Royal State Procession on Princes Street

The arrival of the Prince of Wales The Prince of Wales at Hunters Square

A visit to Edinburgh Castle The last procession

At the Assembly Rooms in George Street Queen Sonja going to Princes Street Gardens

The Memorial in Princes Street Gardens The Festival Theatre

A visit to the National Museum of Scotland The end of a Royal State Visit

Haste ye back

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