King Charles tells crowds in Scotland 'this would gladden my dear mother's heart, as it certainly gladdens mine' as he and Queen Consort Camilla are cheered at first official engagement since the end of royal mourning period.
King Charles III today paid a moving tribute to his late mother on his first public engagement with his wife since the Queen's death.
His Majesty and the Queen Consort Camilla formally conferred city status on Dunfermline as part of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations - and the monarch said the event would 'gladden my dear mother's heart, as it certainly gladdens mine'.
Charles and Camilla were welcomed to Fife by community groups including a local pipe band and schoolchildren - with the King and his wife stopping to speak to crowds and shake their hands. One of those who waited to meet Charles was 91-year-old Catherine Gillian-Adams, who said she was 'thrilled to bits' her home town was now a city.
Thousands gathered in Dunfermline to see the royal couple and other VIPs including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - who was greeted by cheers and boos. But there was clapping and cries of 'God Save the King' when Charles, wearing a blue tartan kilt, arrived.
His Majesty and his wife attended an official council meeting at the City Chambers where the King formally marked the conferral of city status on Dunfermline and made a short speech. It is their first joint public engagements since royal mourning ended last Tuesday.
In the ceremony 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'.
He said: 'That would, I know, gladden my dear mother's heart, as it certainly gladdens mine. As you celebrate your well-deserved status as Scotland's new City, I can only offer my warmest congratulations, and my heartfelt wishes for the years to come'.
He added: 'I was delighted when, in May this year, it was announced that Dunfermline was one of the eight communities being granted City Status to mark The late Queen's Platinum Jubilee. There could be no more fitting way to mark my beloved mother's extraordinary life of service than by granting this honour to a place made famous by its own long and distinguished history, and by the indispensable role it has played in the life of our country.
'Now, of course, we gather to celebrate this great occasion but also to commemorate the life of Her late Majesty, whose deep love for Scotland was one of the foundations of her life'.
After the ceremony they visited 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. The Abbey is the burial place of Robert The Bruce and more of Scotland's royalty.