King and Queen Consort visit Dunfermline in first public engagement since royal mourning

ITV News' Royal Editor Chris Ship reports from Scotland where the King conducted his first public engagement post-mourning

The King and his Queen Consort held their first joint public engagements since royal mourning ended by visiting Dunfermline to mark the former town becoming a city.

King Charles and Camilla were welcomed to Dunfermline in Fife by community groups including a local pipe band and schoolchildren.

They then went on to attend an official council meeting at the City Chambers where the King formally marked the conferral of city status on Dunfermline and make a short speech.

In a ceremony in Dunfermline city chambers, the King said he was “delighted” when it was announced the town would become a city.

He said he hoped people would feel a “real sense of pride in this new chapter”.

After the ceremony they will visit Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary, and will meet with representatives from Historic Scotland to learn about the history of the local area and conservation of the site.

Eight places have won city status as part of the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort attend an official council meeting at the City Chambers in Dunfermline, Fife. Credit: PA

Dunfermline’s bid for the status was based on its heritage and its historic status as an ancient seat of royal power, but also one of the fastest-growing towns in Europe.

The King and his wife Camilla will also host a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Monday to celebrate British South Asian communities.

They will meet with between 200 and 300 guests of British Indian, Pakistani, Bangladesh, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Bhutanese and Maldivian heritage from across the UK.

The event will recognise the contribution many from these communities have made to the National Health Service, arts, media, education, business and the Armed Forces.

King Charles will also hold an investiture ceremony for a small group of local people, his first as monarch.

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