Lately he has accustomed the royal watchers to unscheduled and seems to have the intention to continue on this path: the Queen Elizabeth surprised his subjects again by arriving in Edinburgh without too much notice, along with his youngest son Edward, Duke of Wessex, and his wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones.
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh © Getty Images.
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty ImagesThe sovereign was the protagonist of the “Ceremony of the Keys”before Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Windsor family in Scotland. A small symbolic event, during which the Queen is given the keys to the city of Edinburgh, and which marks, in fact, the beginning of the royal week, that is, of that period of the year in which the sovereign resides in Scotland. Tradition has it that, upon her departure, The Queen returns them, entrusting the city to the officials who take her place.
A moment from the “Ceremony of the Keys” © Getty Images.
Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty ImagesThe arrival of Elizabeth II in Holyroodhouse was confirmed only in the late morning of Monday 27 June: the sovereign will remain until 1 July. There is already some commitment planned, such as an armed forces ceremony on Tuesday 28, which will be held in the palace gardens, while for the following days everything is still very smoky. Upstream, always i mobility problems of Elizabeth II, who arrived in Edinburgh supported by a stick, but without losing her smile, which remained impassive even in the rain that welcomed her to the city. In short, last minute decisions are not whims, but efforts, which the queen makes out of that sense of duty that she has always distinguished her.
It is not yet known where she will spend the rest of the summer, but the sovereign will probably split between Windsor Castle, which has now become her official residence (she will never return to live in Buckingham Palace) and Balmoral, the beloved Scottish estate that has made the backdrop for many happy family holidays. Here will visit her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In rotation, so as not to tire it excessively.
Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:
- Queen Elizabeth, whom no one can call Lilibet anymore
- Queen Elizabeth, “the fun behind the formality”
- Queen Elizabeth honored by the Church of England for her “unreserved” service
To receive the other cover of Vanity Fair (and much more), subscribe to Vanity Weekend
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images1/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images2/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images3/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images4/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images5/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images6/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
-
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images7/7
Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh
© Getty Images
Source: Vanity Fair