Royals arrive in Edinburgh to install the Knights of the Thistle

THE Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William and the Princess Royal have arrived at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh to install the Knights of the Thistle.

royal, queen, duke of edinburgh, prince william, princess royal, scotland, cathedral, edinburgh, st giles cathedral, knights of the thistle, lord smitThe Royal family preparing to take part in the Knights of the Thistle service [PA]

Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin and the Earl of Home will be given the highest honour in Scotland at a service today.

The Order of the Thistle honours men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a significant way to national life.

The prestigious award is second only in precedence in the UK to the Order of the Garter.

The Princess Royal was invested in the Order of the Thistle in June 2001 while Prince William, who is known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, was installed in 2012.

 The Queen and Duke have a busy day ahead of them [PA]

A leading business figure in Scotland, Lord Smith of Kelvin has been chairman of the organising committee of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games since February 2008.

Later the Queen and Duke will attend a commemorative service at the Scottish National War memorial at Edinburgh Castle.

During the service the Colours of The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, will be brought into the War Memorial where they will be received by the Duke of

Edinburgh and laid up by the Chaplain General.

 Prince William and Princess Royal were also on hand for today's service [PA]

They will attend a reception in the Great Hall and will then attend the dedication of a new memorial garden in the castle grounds.

The Queen will unveil a bronze plaque containing elements of metals from the armed forces to mark the sacrifice and centenary of the First World War.

Before leaving she will be presented with a copy of the new book Scotland's Shrine which is about the origins, construction and splendour of the war memorial.

Later the Duke will attend the Duke of Edinburgh gold award presentation at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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