1000s line streets for Holyrood royal parade

THOUSANDS braved the rain to join the Queen, Sir Sean Connery, and a host of politicians and VIPs to celebrate the third session of the Scottish Parliament.

Crowds lined the Royal Mile on Saturday as the crown of Scotland was taken from the Castle to the parliament for the official ceremony.

The event at Holyrood was accompanied by the full panoply of state ceremonial with trumpet fanfares, heralds, and a programme of music.

Guests included the Edinburgh-born Bond legend, in dark green tartan trews and matching jacket, and other SNP supporters including Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer and Stagecoach tycoon Brian Souter.

After the formal ceremony, MSPs set out with 1200 guests for the traditional "riding" procession up the Royal Mile followed by a programme of open-air entertainment.

The ceremony to inaugurate the third Holyrood session - the others began in 1999 and 2003 - made constitutional history.

The SNP won last month's Holyrood elections with 47 seats out of 129, enough to form a minority administration.

In her address, the Queen told MSPs how the mood of the Parliament had changed over the years, from one with "perhaps unrealistic" expectations in 1999.

"Members of the Scottish Parliament, a few weeks ago you were elected by the Scottish people to serve the Scottish people," she said.

"This is both a privilege and a great responsibility."

The event saw Alex Salmond reaffirm his belief in independence while also paying tribute to the "wise reflection" in the Queen's address.

He was later criticised by some Labour MSPs, who argued his speech went too far into the political field.