Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Official Report 981KB pdf

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Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commemoration

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-02909, in the name of Stephen Kerr, on commemorating the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament commemorates the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; recognises that this anniversary also marks 70 years since the death of Her Majesty’s father, King George VI; understands that Her Majesty has been Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories, and Head of the Commonwealth, for the last 70 years, and expresses its indebtedness for her selfless and dutiful service to the country and its people.

17:09  

It is a real honour for me to open this debate commemorating the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth—an occasion that we celebrated together, as a nation, on Sunday 6 February. For the past 70 years, Her Majesty has been the head of state of our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, and the head of the Commonwealth. Throughout her reign, she has continuously displayed the true virtues of leadership: duty, sacrifice and service.

Although Sunday was a day of national celebration, for Her Majesty, it would have been a day of mixed emotions, as it also marked the 70th anniversary of the passing of her father, King George VI. The then Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, when her father suddenly passed away. The next day, the now Queen Elizabeth landed in London and was greeted by the first of 14 Prime Ministers to serve under her: Sir Winston Churchill. According to the historian Dr Kate Williams, Sir Winston Churchill initially thought that the Queen was too young and inexperienced to be head of state, saying, “She’s just a child”, despite Her Majesty already being the mother of two children.

Through paying attention to detail, hard work, dedication and professionalism, Her Majesty ensured that Sir Winston Churchill would have to change his mind, and he did. During her 70-year reign, Her Majesty has shown us that the best virtues of leadership are service and selflessness. True leaders prioritise the cause that they are serving over personal interests, and Her Majesty’s dedication to upholding the national interest can be seen in her behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular after the death of her late husband of more than 70 years.

Last month, various publications noted that Downing Street had offered Her Majesty an exemption from the strict rules that were in place for funerals. According to those reports, Her Majesty declined, saying not only that the exemption was unfair for everyone else in the country who had lost a loved one during the pandemic, but that she wanted to set an example for the nation. Even at one of the most difficult and painful moments in her life, Her Majesty put the national interest first and showed true leadership, not through words but through action.

The spirit with which Her Majesty undertakes her duties as sovereign is summed up in the letter that she published to mark the beginning of her platinum jubilee. The focus of the letter was the future of the Crown, and she asked the British people to give her son, the Duke of Rothesay, our full support when he becomes king. In the letter, Her Majesty also reflected on the importance of partnership, and the loving support that the Duke of Edinburgh gave her during their marriage.

It was in that letter that Her Majesty announced that she would like her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Rothesay, to become Queen consort when Prince Charles becomes king. Her Majesty turned an occasion about her into a moment to support others and ease succession to the throne, highlighting the selflessness that has been a core characteristic of her reign. Her Majesty signed off her platinum jubilee letter with the words, “Your servant”—that says it all.

In recent decades, leadership has often been associated with assertiveness, popularity and calculation. Her Majesty reminds us that that definition is false. Service is at the heart of leadership, and it is that service that allows Her Majesty to unite our country in a way that no politician ever can. During the Covid-19 pandemic, despite numerous politicians having given thousands of speeches, the speech that the British people remember is the one that was given to us by Her Majesty. In her speech, Her Majesty focused on unity, saying:

“if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.”

Her Majesty also reflected on the virtues that characterise Britain:

“self-discipline ... quiet good-humoured resolve and ... fellow-feeling”.

Every politician in our United Kingdom, regardless of political party, has a responsibility to uphold those virtues. One of my favourite quotes from King George VI is:

“The highest of distinctions is service to others.”

Over the past 70 years, Her Majesty has shown that she is the perfect example of her father’s words.

Some argue that the concept of monarchy is antiquated, but Her Majesty has shown that it is needed more than ever. With the loving support of her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty has modernised the royal family while upholding the values of which we, as a country, are proud: duty, sacrifice and service.

In these times of division, nobody can unite our country in the way that Her Majesty does. Talk surrounding the royal family often portrays a person being cast aside for the interests of the Crown. Her Majesty the Queen turns that narrative on its head. It is because of her personal qualities of duty, sacrifice and service that the Crown prospers today and will continue to prosper in the future.

A platinum jubilee is a once-in-a-lifetime event. In the months ahead, may people across Scotland, and across our United Kingdom, celebrate it accordingly, remembering the personal service of our remarkable monarch. God save the Queen!

17:15  

I congratulate Stephen Kerr on his motion celebrating the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England—the first Queen Elizabeth of Scotland.

Regardless of our differing views on the monarchy in modern-day Scotland, the debate is, rightly, a moment to celebrate a unique achievement by a woman who has given her life to serving others, which is reflected in the fact that she is the longest-reigning queen and the longest-reigning monarch currently living.

Last week, the platinum jubilee celebrations got under way across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and around the world, as communities came together to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign. I am sure that many loyal fans and royal watchers will be hopeful that the pandemic will not inhibit the celebrations.

Having anticipated the popularity of the debate and the likely references by many members to the number of countries that the Queen has visited, miles that she has travelled, trees that she has planted, hands that she has shaken and hats and handbags that she owns, I shall instead take a brief walk back in time.

My first memory of the Queen is from a Sunday drive in our family Austin A40 from my home in Aberdeen to see the Queen’s holiday home, Balmoral castle. Although my sister and I could see only the roof of the castle from the road, that was enough for us—we were in awe. During the 70s, 80s and 90s, my family were true royal fans, following every wedding, birth, christening, divorce, death and scandal.

The Queen’s connection to the north-east is lifelong. It is not unusual to encounter her walking, riding or driving around Deeside, clearly at home and always wearing her headscarf. My husband, who was then a serving police officer, returned from Deeside security duties one evening, advising me that, earlier that day, he had had to apologise to the Queen after blocking her in on an estate road as he and his colleague assisted a royal watcher in changing her flat tyre. Graciously, the Queen had offered to help.

Throughout my working life, I, too, spent many hours undertaking security duties when royals were in residence. Many royal watchers arrived at numerous venues where the Queen was undertaking public engagements and official visits, and at Balmoral, too. Some were in full military uniform, with many claiming to be the Queen’s long-lost second cousin—some were the genuine thing. That is a light-hearted moment of reminiscing, but it reflects a life of military precision, with every public engagement planned, co-ordinated, rehearsed, tweaked and diligently undertaken.

Although the debate on the cost to the public purse continues, there is absolutely no question as to the contribution that the Queen has made to the lives of many people who hold a special space in their life for her, as well as her contribution to local groups, charities, organisations, businesses and others that have benefited from her popularity and presence.

Members will all have their own memories of the Queen visiting their constituency or region. That is no less the case for Aberdeen, which she visited in the 60s, during an outbreak of typhoid; in the 70s, when she pressed the button to start oil flowing from the North Sea to Grangemouth; in 2012, to open the University of Aberdeen’s Sir Duncan Rice library; and in 2017, to open the Robertson family roof garden at Aberdeen royal infirmary. In my constituency, she visited the Sue Ryder Dee View Court neurological centre, and her many local patronages include Voluntary Service Aberdeen and the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen.

I wish Her Majesty the Queen well as she celebrates such a milestone. The 70th jubilee celebrations are a fitting acknowledgement of a life of service to others. I look forward to an extra bank holiday in June and to hearing more about the platinum pudding competition.

17:20  

It is a great privilege to speak in my colleague Stephen Kerr’s members’ business debate in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Sadly, the anniversary also marks 70 years since the death of Her Majesty’s father, King George VI. That event was the catalyst for his daughter’s accession to the throne, which was bestowed upon her when she was only 25. There were numerous duties that she needed to undertake and it was an enormous responsibility for someone so young. Almost overnight, the young Princess Elizabeth became Queen and head of state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Crown dependencies and overseas territories and the head of the Commonwealth. As an aside, it is interesting to note that Queen Elizabeth I was also 25 when she became Queen in 1558.

Princess Elizabeth, as the King’s eldest daughter, was next in line to the throne. She was in Kenya at the time of her father’s death and swiftly returned home. Before leaving Kenya, she penned many letters of apology to potential hosts for having to cancel her long-awaited visit, which had actually been meant to have been father’s visit. She also became the first sovereign in more than 200 years to accede to the throne while abroad.

Following her coronation, on 2 June 1953 at Westminster abbey, which has been the setting for all coronations since 1066, Her Majesty became the 39th sovereign to be crowned and swiftly took up the mantle. She has taken her journey as Queen with great dignity. In a broadcast during her 21st birthday, on 21 April 1947, while on a tour of South Africa with her parents and younger sister Margaret, she promised:

“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

Service defines the Queen. More than three quarters of a century ago, at the age of 18, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She did that because she wanted to be part of the services. She took no rank other than second subaltern because her father wanted her to have an opportunity to serve. At that time and since, Her Majesty’s resolve, determination and immeasurable loyalty to our country have shone through.

Celebrations to mark her 70th anniversary as monarch of the realm will take place during the year. The first will be a four-day bank holiday from 2 to 5 June. The jubilee bank holiday will provide an opportunity for individuals the length and breadth of the country to celebrate. In addition, there will be the Queen’s green canopy, a unique tree-planting initiative created to invite people from across the United Kingdom to plant trees for the jubilee. The platinum pudding competition has already been mentioned. It will be chaired by celebrity chef Mary Berry. There will also be the big jubilee lunch, which will encourage communities the length and breadth of the country to get together and get to know each other a little bit better. Many other events will take place throughout the country. I am sure that we will all participate in our own constituencies and regions.

I very much welcome the Queen’s words during her platinum jubilee message last Saturday, 5 February. She said that she would mark the anniversary and that it gave her great pleasure to renew the pledge that she gave to our country in 1947 that her entire life would always be devoted to our service. Echoing her, I hope that, especially during this time of division, the jubilee will bring families, friends, neighbours and communities closer together, all as one.

17:24  

I thank my colleague Stephen Kerr for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Remarkably, the Queen is the only British monarch to reach the 70-year milestone, surpassing Queen Victoria’s 63 years and 216 days and joining a handful of kings and queens from around the world.

As we have heard from others, Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya when she heard the news that her father had died. Aged just 25, she flew home, knowing that her private life would never truly be her own again. Her husband, Prince Philip, would never finish his naval career, but would take on the role of her selfless consort. She knew how important that role would be, having witnessed her mother dedicating the same duty to her father during his reign.

In the past 70 years, the Queen has shaped her role as head of state of 15 sovereign countries. Over seven decades, she has seen extraordinary social, cultural and technological progress. She has responded extraordinarily to difficult situations. She has been calm and reassuring and has set a fine example for us all during the Covid crisis.

In an interview for the February edition of Holyrood magazine, I was asked who I would invite to my fantasy dinner party. Of course, I said the Queen. She is an inspiration to women and girls across the world. She is a leader, a proud mother, an eager conservationist and a dedicated philanthropist. The Queen is so popular that the Palace advertised this year for a new, full-time employee to read her post and to provide a timely and welcome response to the good wishes of her thousands of long-term admirers. Her unwavering devotion to the country is unparalleled by any other monarch or world leader. It is ironic therefore, that everyone else gets a holiday to celebrate her extraordinary hard work, commitment and service.

In the short time that I have, I will touch on the Queen’s love of the countryside and of animals. It is no secret that the Queen loves horses: she is an avid equestrian and was famously photographed riding one of her fell ponies in 2018, aged 92. Her interest in fell ponies and British native breeds dates back to her early childhood. Fell ponies are not the Queen’s only love. She has raised Highland ponies under the Balmoral prefix, and Shetland ponies. While Shetland ponies need no introduction, the Highland pony is very rare. In Scotland, the Highland pony was historically used on small farms. It was Queen Victoria’s interest in the breed that sparked the royal family’s association with Highland ponies.

Lest you think that the Queen enjoys only diminutive equine species, be assured that she is also fond of the thoroughbred horse. She attends each day of the week-long Royal Ascot event and has bred many thoroughbreds and achieved success in racing over the years. The royal farms are also home to a trio of cattle breeds: the Highland, the Jersey and the Sussex. The Queen has raised Highland cattle at her home at Balmoral since 1953, while her Sussex cattle reside at her estate in Windsor.

Farming and the countryside have always been passions for the Queen. She spends a considerable amount of time at Balmoral in Scotland, or at Sandringham. It is therefore a fitting tribute that British farmers are being invited to light beacons across the country at 9.15 pm on 2 June to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee. Around 1,500 beacons will be lit across the UK as part of the celebrations across the four-day bank holiday weekend.

I want to reflect on the words shared by the Queen when she opened the Borders railway in 2015 as Britain’s longest reigning monarch. She said:

“Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception.”

In her platinum jubilee, may we all wish Her Majesty the Queen good health and thank her for her selfless duty throughout her fantastic 70-year reign.

17:28  

I congratulate Stephen Kerr on securing this important debate and commend him for the content of his speech.

I also add my congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen as she celebrates the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. That is a monumental achievement for a British monarch and one that is unlikely ever to be repeated. As Stephen Kerr reminded us, she has endured 14 Prime Ministers—so far.

Our country has changed dramatically in the past 70 years. In 1952, the average cost of buying a house was just under £2,000; now it is almost a hundred times greater. Forget mobile phones: only around 14 per cent of households even had a landline. The country would still have to cope with food rationing for a further two years. There was no Netflix—in fact, there was not even colour TV. That is all unimaginable to us today.

The one constant that our country has had throughout has been Her Majesty. She has not been a constant only for people who were born and brought up in the UK. As members may be aware, I was born and grew up in Hong Kong. As Hong Kong remained a British colony until 1997, the Queen was very much regarded as the people of Hong Kong’s monarch, too. She was, in fact, the first British monarch to visit Hong Kong, which she did in 1975. I remember that that caused huge excitement, not least for me, at the tender age of 11—please do not get your calculators out to work out how old I am now. She was accompanied on that visit, as on so many other visits, state openings and trips, by her husband, Prince Philip.

I cannot begin to imagine the strain that was put on the new marriage of such a young couple when the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth suddenly became Queen following the untimely death of King George VI. Together, they went through incredible highs and lows, both in their roles as heads of state, and as parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

Not that we need any more evidence of Her Majesty’s exceptional taste and impeccable judgment in visiting Hong Kong, but if I may be parochial for a moment, members may be interested to know that, very shortly after succeeding to the throne, in 1953, Her Majesty visited the wonderful constituency of—you guessed it—Dumbarton. When the new monarch arrived by train into Dumbarton East train station—undoubtedly on a much more reliable service than those that go through the station today—she was welcomed by 5,000 cheering local schoolchildren. As I would encourage everyone to do, Her Majesty and Prince Philip took in the many sights that my constituency has to offer, and ended the day visiting the historic Dumbarton castle. She was the first British monarch to visit the area since her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, visited Dumbarton in 1867.

As any visitor to Dumbarton will tell you, one trip is never enough. That is why Her Majesty and Prince Philip returned to Dumbarton in 1965, this time taking a trip on the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer up Loch Lomond, visiting Helensburgh and meeting the doctors and nurses at the Vale of Leven hospital. Her Majesty returned again to open the new Chivas Regal bottling plant at Kilmalid, and, I am told, she enjoyed a wee sample.

The fact that there is an ever-dwindling group of us in the Parliament who have been here since 1999 means that there are few who have attended more state openings in the Scottish Parliament than I have. When Her Majesty opened the building that we are in today, she described the Scottish Parliament as

“a landmark for 21st century democracy”.

At the most recent state opening in October last year, Her Majesty spoke of her “deep and abiding affection” for Scotland. I am sure that we can agree that those feelings are entirely reciprocated.

On behalf of the Scottish Labour Party, I wish to thank Her Majesty for the 70 years of dedication and commitment that she has given to serving her people and her country. We wish her the very best on her platinum anniversary.

17:33  

It is an honour today to celebrate the 70-year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who is the longest reigning monarch in our history. I pay tribute to my colleague Stephen Kerr for securing the time for this debate.

We all know the history of our Queen and her love for Scotland. She is descended from the royal house of Stewart on both sides of her family. She has spent many summers at Balmoral castle in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, in my region.

So many of us, our parents and our grandparents have family memories of events over the past 70 years. I remember the silver anniversary in 1977, when I was a little girl, and, more recently, the diamond jubilee in 2012. Those were times of national celebration and affection.

From as far back as the second world war, the Queen has been the country’s constant servant, and she remains unrelentingly dedicated to her work, even at the age of 95. Since she came to the throne, the Queen has sent almost 300,000 100^th birthday messages, and close to 900,000 diamond wedding anniversary cards. Today, I want to share a personal history of two photographs and two certificates hanging on the wall in my home. For my family, like so many others, they represent how Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family are so often interwoven in our stories and histories.

The two certificates proudly hanging in our hallway speak of hard work, learning and service to others. One of the certificates is the Duke of Edinburgh’s gold award, presented by the Queen’s consort, who stood by her side for most of the 70 years of her reign. The other certificate is the Girls Brigade Queen’s award. One was presented at the Palace of Holyrood by Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, and the other was presented by Queen Elizabeth in Dundee. Those were both special life events for my wife and her family—as such events are for so many young people in the Girls Brigade, Boys Brigade, guides and scouts.

There are two photographs in the entrance hall. Ishbel, a florist all her life, regularly made the arrangements for launch days of ships on the Clyde from where she worked on Buchanan street. In 1959, one of Ishbel’s arrangements became the Queen Mother’s Christmas card that year. That picture proudly hangs in our home.

The other photograph is of my wife’s parents, Ishbel and George—who are watching this debate—celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in 2018. They were personally presented by the Provost Ian McAllan and the lord-lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Lady Susan Haughey, with a diamond wedding anniversary card from Her Majesty the Queen. That day was a celebration of their life together, and one made memorable by the Queen and her representatives.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge lords-lieutenant, who work in a voluntary capacity to represent the Queen in communities across the UK. Last week I was delighted to meet the lord-lieutenant of Kincardineshire, Alastair Macphie, and to learn about his role.

George and Ishbel, now in their late 80s, are so fond of these pictures. They made sure that they had pride of place when they came to live with us when Covid-19 hit. The pictures give them daily joy.

It is not just Her Majesty the Queen’s life and reign we celebrate today, but those personal family ties and celebrated moments that bring us all together as one nation, and one family.

Given the number of members who wish to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 8.14.3, to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes. I invite Stephen Kerr to move the motion.

Motion moved,

That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—[Stephen Kerr]

Motion agreed to.

17:38  

I thank Stephen Kerr for bringing the debate to the chamber and allowing me to sneak in a few comments on the 70 years since the Queen ascended the throne.

As has been said, the then duchess was in Kenya at the Treetops hotel, when she heard of the death of her father, King George VI, early in the morning on 6 February 1952. She was a young woman and most of her teenage years had been mired in world war two.

During her reign, the Queen has seen 14 prime ministers and 13 United States presidents, starting—incredibly—with Winston Churchill and Harry S Truman. Her role in diplomatic relations cannot be overstated, having welcomed so many world leaders to the United Kingdom—including some who were very controversial. In her tireless travels while representing our country, the warm welcome that she receives everywhere she goes is testament to her world standing and, as Stephen Kerr said, the way that she can bring communities together. I often think that she is more valued and welcomed around the world than by some of her subjects here in the United Kingdom.

I have been lucky enough to have met Her Majesty on several occasions, the first of which was way back in 1986 at the Commonwealth games in Edinburgh. Standing in line as a hairy young Scots boy in a kilt, I was extremely nervous about what I could possibly say to Her Majesty. However, I need not have worried. Her Majesty has the ability to engage with anyone, from young athletes to heads of state, and make them feel special and like they are the only one in the room. It is a remarkable gift from a remarkable lady. We all have a huge debt of gratitude for her lifetime of service to her country and I am glad that I have had the opportunity, just for a couple of minutes, to pass on my best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen.

17:40  

I thank Stephen Kerr for lodging the motion. I start by wishing Queen Elizabeth the very best after 70 years in public life. Surely, at the age of 95 and having just lost her husband of many years, she is entitled to some peace and quiet.

I mean that sincerely, but I have to speak on behalf of the half of Scotland that supports a republic, and I wonder why we are debating the motion at this time. It appears to me that it is primarily a motion congratulating longevity. Surely, if that is the case, we all have other people as worthy, if not more worthy, of such an accolade. For example, take my mother. Next year, when the Queen celebrates the 70th anniversary of her coronation, my mum will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of my birth. Although the Queen has had every support known to mankind during the past 70 years, my mum and dad brought me and my two younger brothers up in a single end, and then in a room and kitchen, while struggling to make ends meet with low wages and sometimes no wages.

I ask again: what is so special about any individual to deserve such a motion? The Queen has been fortunate in that she does not have a difficult life. I accept that she has a life of public service, which cannot always be easy, but there are not many royals who would be willing to swap places with people who rely on the other benefit system—the one that does not treat people as though they are special but as though they are less than human and should be grateful for the pittance that the state gives them to try to exist on.

The Queen, like us all, has a family full of flaws, so I am always a bit bemused at the reverence that is bestowed on that family. However, given that that reverence exists, I wonder about the hypocrisy of the Tories—the party that lied to the Queen to get Parliament illegally prorogued and the party that had a couple of parties as she mourned and waited to bury her husband, yet has the gall to lodge this motion.

I make no bones about the fact that I believe in a republic. No family should have the right to be treated as superior because of an accident of birth. They are simply people who are spoiled and pampered by this class-ridden society, but they are still only people. The UK, as is clear from the narrow range of schooling of so many of our leaders, is a class-based society, to the detriment of those at the bottom end of that skewed measurement of worth. The Queen is, of course, at the peak of that pyramid of entitlement.

We have a housing crisis while they have multiple houses with massive lands attached. We have food banks while they have banquets. We have people on benefits chased up for every penny while they are given tax breaks to protect their wealth and property.

Mr Dornan, I will stop you briefly. I have a point of order from Rachael Hamilton

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I believe that Mr Dornan has gone slightly off topic.

That is not a point of order and I do not believe that James Dornan has deviated from the topic, even if he has deviated from the spirit of the other contributions in the debate.

I am happy to accept both of those points. I read that the Queen is considering retiring next year, which makes perfect sense to me. However, at that point, the debate should not be, “Should we skip a generation because we don’t like Charles and Camilla and we like Will and Kate?”, but “Has the anachronism that is the royal family run its natural course, and is it time for a republic?”

I respect anyone who has continued to work until the age that the Queen has, and I sincerely wish her well, but it is time that Scotland and the rest of the UK had a grown-up debate about whether we wish to be perceived as subjects of Charles and Camilla or as citizens of a Scottish republic.

17:44  

I am honoured to contribute to today’s members’ business debate, which has rightly been brought to the chamber by my colleague Stephen Kerr. I would like to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty the Queen, who is not only our longest reigning monarch but an inspiration to women across the world.

Her Majesty’s professional accomplishments are to be marvelled at, but we often forget how she has been a champion in paving the way for the modern woman. Her Majesty has been a wife, mother and grandmother, yet she has garnered the respect of world leaders at a time when it was still uncommon for women to be in a leading role, let alone the head of an entire nation and the Commonwealth.

As a young woman, she was thrown into a role that carries immense responsibility, but she has never second-guessed her decision to put the Crown and country first. She has been a constant source of stability, comfort, identity and inspiration for the whole nation. Her Majesty is an expert in many things, has a great sense of humour and is exceptionally quick witted.

Although most of us will never get the chance to know her personally, does it not feel as though we all know her on some level? Her Majesty stands at the heart of British values and at the core of our identity as a nation. I know that I speak not only for myself when I say that Her Majesty is an inspiration to all women.

We are approaching international women’s day, which will take place next month, and Her Majesty is the perfect role model whom many women, such as me, look up to. Her Majesty has become an icon for women. She earned the respect of the entire nation by proving that she is a born leader. She is intelligent, diplomatic and level-headed. We need not even consider her gender, for it has never stood in her way. Her Majesty is quietly powerful. We need not hear from her about how she has normalised having female leaders—we see it.

I hope that everyone in the chamber will join me in congratulating Her Majesty on her 70 years of loyal service. To me, she is not only a leader; she is the mother of the United Kingdom.

17:48  

I thank my colleague Stephen Kerr for bringing the debate to the chamber so that we can all join together in celebrating the remarkable achievement of Her Majesty the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Her Majesty has become the first British monarch to have reigned for 70 years. In that time, there have been many extraordinary firsts. On 23 May 1953, Everest was conquered for the first time by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. News of that incredible achievement would reach the United Kingdom on the morning of Her Majesty’s official coronation on 2 June 1953.

In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon. On 9 November 1989, the Berlin wall came crashing down in a resounding victory for freedom and democracy that was rejoiced the world over. There have also been advancements in technology, medicine, human rights, international trade and global travel.

The selfless dedication to duty and a commitment to upholding the values of freedom and democracy are a testament to everything that Her Majesty seeks to achieve in her daily life. The list of titles and responsibilities that are invested in Her Majesty could fill the chamber 10 times over, so, given the time that is available, I will pick out one or two.

As head of the British armed forces, Her Majesty has overseen the finest military men and women the world has ever seen. Our military personnel hold a very special place in the heart of the nation, and throughout the past 70 years, those traditions have been expertly handled by Her Majesty in her role as commander-in-chief of the British armed forces.

For many, trooping the colour has always been a special highlight of the British summer, but the event that is clearest in my memory is watching Her Majesty lead the nation in remembrance day services at the cenotaph.

Her Majesty has a close and personal connection to Scotland, where she is known as the chief of chiefs. It is always a pleasure to see the Royal Company of Archers, resplendent in their uniform of green velvet, providing an official bodyguard on state visits such as the opening of the Scottish Parliament, which we all attended a few months ago.

However, it is not official state visits that are most clear in my memory. What stands out is the footage of Her Majesty, Prince Philip and their young family at Balmoral, enjoying many happy days at home in the Scottish Highlands. The love and affection that Her Majesty holds for Scotland are unrivalled. We have always held a special place in her heart. It is important that we always remember Her Majesty’s words. She said:

“I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country, and of the many happy memories Prince Philip and I always held of our time here. It is often said that it is the people that make a place, and there are few places where this is truer than in Scotland, as we have seen in recent times.”

I echo the words of David Cameron, who, as Prime Minister, eloquently led the House of Commons on the occasion of Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee celebration. He said:

“On her first address to the nation as Queen, Her Majesty pledged that throughout all her life, and with all her heart, she would strive to be worthy of the people’s trust: this she has achieved beyond question. The nation holds her in its heart, not just as the figurehead of an institution but as an individual who has served this country with unerring grace, dignity and decency.”—[Official Report, House of Commons, 7 March 2012; Vol 541, c 849.]

I think that we can all agree that there is no finer tribute to Her Majesty on her platinum jubilee.

God save the Queen!

17:51  

I congratulate Stephen Kerr on securing the debate and on his speech—it is a rare occasion on which I agree with every word that he says.

I am pleased to take part in this evening’s proceedings as the Scottish Government minister with responsibility for the royal household, as a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council and as a member of the Scottish Cabinet, which sent its appreciation this week for the long and distinguished service of our head of state.

The debate allows me to provide a brief update to the Parliament on this year’s platinum jubilee in Scotland and to reconfirm the Scottish Government’s recognition and commendation of Her Majesty the Queen’s remarkable legacy and dedication to duty during the 70 years of her reign here and in the 15 other independent states around the world—including Canada, Australia and New Zealand—where she is head of state.

Her Majesty is bound to Scotland by ties of ancestry and affection, as has been noted. As a direct descendent of the royal house of Stewart on both sides of her family, her personal relationship with the people of Scotland and our country began in childhood and has deepened through her many private and official visits during the seven decades of her reign.

This is an apt time to recall some of the milestones of Her Majesty’s visits and engagements in Scotland throughout the past seven decades. Her Majesty’s first state visit to Scotland as Queen came on 24 June 1953, just weeks after the coronation. Cheering crowds witnessed a magnificent procession accompanying the royal carriage, bearing the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, to St Giles cathedral for a national service of thanksgiving. There, for the first time since 1822, the honours of Scotland were carried before the monarch and presented to her.

In September 1967, Her Majesty visited John Brown’s shipyard at Clydebank, which was the birthplace of the Royal Yacht Britannia, RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth. On that occasion, she christened the new Cunard liner, the QEII.

In 1977, the year of Her Majesty’s silver jubilee, about 200,000 people in Glasgow welcomed her on her tour of Scotland. Further north, in Dundee, 10,000 Dundonians waved as she passed through and, in Aberdeen, I am told that the crowds waiting on the pavements to see her were 20 people deep.

On 24 July 1986, here in Edinburgh, Her Majesty opened the Commonwealth games, which is an undertaking that she performed again in 2014, when Glasgow hosted the games.

In July 1999, with the return of Scotland’s Parliament for the first time in nearly 300 years, Her Majesty formally opened the Parliament, which was then housed in the General Assembly hall, and gifted a specially commissioned mace—which rests before us—to mark the Parliament’s authority. In her speech, she commented:

“This is a society in which the qualities of co-operation, learning, entrepreneurial flair and national pride run deep”,

before mentioning

“the grit, determination and humour, the forthrightness and above all the strong sense of identity of the Scottish people”,

which are all qualities that occupy a personal place in her own and her family’s affections.

In 2002, the golden jubilee year, Her Majesty visited Scotland and opened the jubilee wheel at the Millennium Link in Falkirk and the Space in the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in Dundee. She travelled to the Isle of Skye and to Lewis, and she attended the Borders gathering at Melrose.

In the 2010s, Her Majesty opened major pieces of infrastructure that have benefited the people of Scotland. In 2015, she opened the Borders railway, and the Queensferry crossing was officially opened by her in September 2017. The 2010s was also the decade of Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee; in 2012, Perth had its city status restored by the Queen.

Most recently, there has never been a clearer indication of Her Majesty’s selfless dedication to duty and her love of Scotland and its people than her attendance at the opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament in October last year, just a few short months after she lost her consort of 73 years.

Her Majesty congratulated the Parliament for marking the new session safely in “a very trying period”, while noting that Parliament had

“been at the heart of Scotland’s response to the pandemic”.

Her Majesty then told the chamber of her

“deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country, and of the many happy memories”

that she held of her time here. She added that the new session brought

“a sense of beginning and renewal”,

and she urged us all to “work together” despite any “differences of opinion”.

We strongly hope to see Her Majesty again this summer, during royal week, while she is in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and holding summer court at Balmoral.

Throughout her reign, the Queen has demonstrated commitment and support to a diverse group of organisations that span the length and breadth of Scotland. That varied list includes the Aberdeen Association of Social Service; the Highland Association—An Comunn Gàidhealach; the Piobaireachd Society; the Royal Caledonian Curling Club; the Scottish Football Association; and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. I could go on.

Her Majesty also holds a number of appointments in the armed forces in Scotland. She is, for example, colonel-in-chief of both the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Through her patronages, Her Majesty had provided vital publicity for the work of those organisations and has allowed their enormous achievements and contributions to society to be recognised.

Her Majesty is one of the longest-serving monarchs in the world ever—the length of her reign has recently overtaken that of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary. This year, her platinum jubilee will be celebrated throughout the land. We have ensured that the people of Scotland have access to the long weekend in early June so that they can enjoy community-led events. Those include the big lunch, dedicated Highland games and Guinness world record attempts. We will also see the return from previous events of the lighting of beacons. I have recently been advised that a tune that has been composed for the occasion by piper Stuart Liddell of Inveraray will be played throughout the Commonwealth as the sun sets on 2 June.

There is also great engagement with the Queen’s Green Canopy, as that initiative to

“plant a tree for the Jubilee”

has been taken forward by schools, communities, scout and guide troops and individuals, to name but a few. Plantings range from single trees to platinum crowns of silver birch, and those, as well as the dedication of ancient trees to the platinum jubilee, will enhance and benefit local areas.

We are indebted to the work that has been carried out by the Scottish lord-lieutenants, community and local councils, and local authorities in engaging with their communities to develop all those activities.

Her Majesty’s selfless dedication to and affection for Scotland and its people, as head of state and as a steadfast friend of our Parliament since its establishment in 1999, are beyond question. Her Majesty the Queen has led us forward through remarkable innovations, such as we have seen in technology and medicine, while providing a firm foundation for us through the difficulties of a changing climate and a worldwide pandemic.

I invite members to join me in noting our respect for Her Majesty the Queen’s immeasurable dedication to and affection for Scotland and its people, and in offering our unreserved thanks for her selfless and dutiful service to our country.

Meeting closed at 17:59.