Nicola Sturgeon’s mixed reception: Scotland’s First Minister is booed and cheered by crowd as she arrives in Dunfermline for city-making ceremony – while King Charles is greeted by fans waving Union flags
- Nicola Sturgeon was met with boos and whistles as she arrived in Dunfermline
- Scottish First Minister visited the City Chambers today for city-making event
- King Charles greeted crowds waving Union flags as he also arrived for ceremony
- Dunfermline was made a city during celebrations of Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Nicola Sturgeon today received a mixed reception as she arrived for a historic city-making ceremony in Dunfermline.
The Scottish First Minister was loudly booed by parts of the crowd – and cheered by others – as she smiled and waved to fellow Scots outside Dunfermline City Chambers this morning.
Royal fans had gathered outside the 140-year-old council building to catch a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla – who are also attending the event.
Dunfermline, which is just across the Forth estuary from the Scottish capital Edinburgh, was granted city status earlier this year as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But the Monarch died last month, at the age of 96, before the ceremony to formally mark the honour could take place.
Today, Charles, who ascended the throne last month following the death of his mother, will be among those attending the city-making ceremony.
Nicola Sturgeon today received a frosty reception as she arrived ahead of King Charles for a historic city-making ceremony in Dunfermline. Pictured: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is greeted by Lord Provost of Dunfermline Jim Leishman as she arrives at the City Chambers in Dunfermline, Fife
King Charles III greets members of the public as he arrives at an official council meeting at the City Chambers in Dunfermline, Fife, to formally mark the conferral of city status on the former town, ahead of a visit to Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary
The Scottish First Minister was loudly booed and jeered by parts of the crowd as she smiled and waved to fellow Scots outside Dunfermline City Chambers this morning. Pictured: A screenshot from a video posted by ITV’s Chris Ship
Ahead of the event, First Minister Sturgeon arrived at Dunfermline City Chambers, where she was met by Lord Provost of Dunfermline Jim Leishman.
But as she turned to wave to the largely royalist crowds, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader was met with a mixed reception. Among a smattering of cheers and claps were loud boos and whistles.
The moment was captured on camera by ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship.
Posting the video on Twitter, he wrote: ‘If you needed a reminder of how decisive Scottish politics can be, Nicola Sturgeon was mostly booed (plus some cheers) by the crowd waiting for King Charles and Camilla to arrive.
‘This is a crowd waiting for a monarch to turn up but took me by surprise…’.
In sharp contrast, King Charles was later seen greeting crowds, some of whom were waving the Union flag.
One Dunfermline resident who was among those to gather outside the city chambers ahead of the King’s visit described the arrival of the monarch as ‘exciting’.
Bill Henderson, 71, said: ‘It’s a historic event.
‘I was born just before the Queen was came to the throne, so she’s been my monarch my whole life. It’s just exciting.
‘And especially a King Charles coming back to Dunfermline when King Charles the First was born here, however long ago that was.’
Teacher Carol Williams, 52, said: ‘It’s such an honour for Dunfermline.’
The newly-crowned city, which can date its roots back to before the Bronze Age, was given its city status in May as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
People wait for the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla during an official ceremony to mark Dunfermline as a city
King Charles was later seen greeting crowds, some of whom were waving the Union flag
King Charles III arrives at Dunfermline City Chambers. King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort grant city status on the city of Dunfermline,
Eight towns were granted city status, including Colchester, Doncaster, Milton Keynes, Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Bangor in Northern Ireland, Douglas on the Isle of Man and Wrexham in Wales.
Dunfermline beat Scottish rival St Andrews, known worldwide as the home of golf and Scotland’s first university, to gain the honour.
Speaking at the time, Provost of Fife Jim Leishman, said: ‘The official title of city will give Dunfermline the wider recognition that it deserves as one of the fastest-growing, urban areas in Scotland, offering all the amenities that any modern city could hope for.
‘City status will help us grow economically and as a tourist destination and will have a positive impact on Dunfermline and the surroundings.
‘Of course, the people of Dunfermline have always known that Dunfermline is a city, that’s why we have the City Car Park, the City Hotel and City Cabs but it’s great to finally get official recognition of this. ‘
Alongside the ceremony, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will carry out other engagements in Scotland today.
They will attend a council meeting at the City Chambers, before touring Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary.
They will later host a reception to celebrate British South Asian communities at The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Dunfermline: The newly-crowned city which was once Scotland’s capital
Located just across the Forth Estuary from Scotland’s current capital, Edinburgh, Dunfermline has its own central place in Scottish history.
The settlement, which is believed to pre-date the Bronze Age, was once Scotland’s capital from the mid-11th century to the 15th century.
It was originally made the capital under King Malcolm III and Queen Margaret.
At the peak of its power the abbey at its centre controlled four burghs, three courts of regality and a large portfolio of lands from Moray in the north down to Berwickshire.
Located just across the Forth Estuary from Scotland’s current capital, Edinburgh, Dunfermline (pictured) has its own central place in Scottish history
At the peak of its power the abbey (pictured) at its centre controlled four burghs, three courts of regality and a large portfolio of lands from Moray in the north down to Berwickshire
And it was home to the royal mausoleum of Scottish Kings, including most of Robert the Bruce – whose heart was taken to Melrose Abbey at his request.
But following the union between England and Scotland, the Scottish court was moved down to London. Dunfermline’s importance quickly dwindled and it was eventually replaced as an administrative capital by Edinburgh.
The town saw a revival in the 18th century with the linen industry and since 2000 has seen significant expansion – though it is regarded (by some) as still a satellite of the larger Edinburgh.
Now Dunfermline has gained city status. It was one of eight towns to be made a city in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, alongside the likes of Wrexham in Wales and Colchester in Essex.
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