25 and 26 May 2002: A ceremonial procession to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Assembly service at St. Giles' Cathedral

Edinburgh's Royal Mile lived up to its name when The Queen and Prince Philip travelled in ceremonial procession from Holyroodhouse to the Mound for the opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 

Thousands of well-wishers lined the route as The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made the short journey to The Mound in a gilded State carriage. Many were armed with umbrellas against the rain and wind. The Scottish State coach, drawn by four grey horses, was escorted by two squadrons of the Household Cavalry. Soldiers from the Highlanders regiment had earlier paraded along the Royal Mile. The Queen was met at North Bank Street with a rendition of God Save The Queen, as Gurkhas stood by and saluted.

On arrival in the Assembly Hall, The Queen gave an address to the audience of 850 ministers, elders and members of the Church of Scotland. She recalled that her last visit to the Assembly Hall on the Mound had been on the historic occasion of the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

The Queen commented: "I expressed then, and reaffirm now, my profound affection for Scotland and the importance of the Scottish dimension to my life and the lives of my family.

"My visit here today affords me an opportunity to thank the people of Scotland for their support after the deaths of my mother and my sister. I have been so touched by the kindness shown by so many of you over these recent months."

She also said she greatly valued her family's long connection with the Church of Scotland.

"If some of my predecessors have had their differences with the Church, others have held it in high regard. I think especially of my great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who was devoted to the Kirk, not least because of its straightforward practical Christianity."

The Queen listened as the outgoing Moderator, the Very Rev John Miller, handed over the ceremonial ring to his successor, the Rt Rev Finlay Macdonald. Reverend Macdonald bade The Queen "a hearty welcome" in both Gaelic and English. "Your Majesty, throughout all the changes of the past 50 years you have been a blessing to your people, in church, and nation and Commonwealth. We thank you, we thank God for you and we pray his continued blessing upon you and all whom you hold dear," he said.

The Queen left the Assembly before it began its official business to return to Holyrood Palace.

The poor weather did not put a dampener on the afternoon's events - a garden party in the Palace of Holyroodhouse for around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life. The Queen also met 50 people who were born on her Accession Day - 6 February 1952.

About 400 soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Highlanders and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment paraded at Holyroodhouse to mark the historic occasion. A salute was fired from Edinburgh Castle by the Territorial Army's 105 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers).

On the following day, Sunday, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended the church service of the General Assembly in St. Giles' Cathedral.